The parents of murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne came face-to-face with the man accused of her murder for the first time today.

Roy William Whiting, 42, was remanded until May 18 by Judge Richard Brown when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

Sarah's parents, Sara and Michael Payne, were in court, sitting just feet from Whiting, who appeared in the dock wearing black jeans and a grey T-shirt.

Mr Payne held his wife's hand and they whispered to each other as Whiting was led into the dock.

Mrs Payne - who wore a For Sarah badge on her blazer - stared at Whiting throughout the ten-minute hearing.

They both shook visibly as he took his seat, flanked by three security guards.

Whiting, formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, who spoke only to confirm his name, smiled through much of the hearing and yawned as Judge Brown remanded him in custody.

Outside the court more than a dozen police officers were on hand as cameramen waited for Sarah's parents and her grandparents, Terry and Lesley Payne, who left the court without commenting.

Sarah, from Hersham, Surrey, disappeared in Kingston Gorse, East Preston, on July 1 last year, near her grandparent's home. Her body was found in a field 16 days later.