Sarah -The Grim Truth

Sussex Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo called for a minute's silence after breaking the news at a Press conference at Brinsbury College, near Pulborough, about a mile from the field where Sarah's body was found in undergrowth yesterday.

Mr Yeo said that as a result of a post mortem examination, Sarah's death was being treated as murder but he would give no details about how she was killed.

The tragic news was broken to parents Michael and Sara Payne by police family liaison officers this morning.

Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo said: "Sarah's parents have always been as pragmatic as they are strong. There was a possibility that they would have to face the scenario.

"As you would appreciate, all our thoughts go to the family at this time."

Mr Yeo said the body was identified through fingerprints, although DNA testing was also being carried out.

He would not be drawn on how Sarah was murdered, saying there were now certain aspects of the case he could not be as open about as he had been in the past.

Mr Yeo said Sarah's naked body had probably been placed at the scene off the A29 some time over the first weekend of July.

He said: "She was unclothed and her clothing has yet to be found. We are looking for them at the moment. The blue dress and black shoes. We anticipate we will be able to show you look-alikes."

Mr Yeo said Sarah's parents had been told every detail and he described the atmosphere among police as "grim but determined", adding: "It is very sombre but there are a lot of determined people out there."

Mr Yeo said there were a significant number of lines of inquiry which had not been ruled out at this stage.

He refused to comment on whether she had been sexually assaulted.

In response to questions, Mr Yeo said samples taken during the post mortem were being tested.

Mr Yeo said people previously interviewed by police were due to return on police bail, but he said there had been no more arrests made during the inquiry since the release of two men questioned during the first week of the investigation.

Sarah's body was found by a farm worker in fields near the agricultural college just miles from where the girl disappeared on July 1.

His find was reported at 11.02am yesterday and within minutes officers from Operation Maple were at the scene.

The body was discovered in undergrowth near a footpath in fields near the A29.

It was moved to a mortuary at Worthing Hospital at 9pm last night where Home Office pathologist Vesna Djurovic carried out a post mortem.

Today officers were continuing to scour the scene searching for vital clues and DNA.

White-suited forensic officers will be carrying out a fingertip search of the fields, a task likely to continue until Thursday.

Sarah's parents, her brother and sisters visited the spot today.

As they left, they placed flowers at the scene.

A poignant message with another tribute left near the scene today summed up the sorrow of the nation.

"Sleep sweetly little angel," read the card, which was marked with a single kiss and left among the chrysanthemums, carnations and lilies by the side of the road.

Five bunches of flowers, mainly pink and white carnations, have been placed on the side of the A29.

Two of the bunches had written messages of love for little Sarah, while the other flowers simply lay as a mark of respect.

One was left by the Rogers and the Rands family and sent support of love to the Payne family.

The message read: "You're in our hearts and in our minds. God bless you little one and your family. Our hearts go out to you with love."

Ten search officers cleared the verges at either side of the A29 of bracken and undergrowth today.

They piled up the foliage alongside the tent, which was erected over the body yesterday.

The tent remained in place today and officers also put up a screen on the verge near to two bouquets of flowers, thought to have been left by local children.

Sussex police brought in 14 specially-trained German shepherd dogs this morning to sniff for evidence which could help police find the killer.

Superintendent Phil Clarke said the dogs would be looking for items buried or hidden and would be backed up by five search teams combing the area behind them.

He said: "I am hoping that we will clear the searching around this area today."

Hedgerows and bushes surrounding the search site were today being cut back to allow officers to carry out their search.

Assistant Chief Constable Yeo asked the gathered media to respect the privacy of the Payne family.

He asked reporters and cameramen to stand for a minute's silence to remember to schoolgirl during today's press conference.

He said it was an unusual step but that it was taken in recognition of the fact that he and many members of the media had been following the inquiry for more than two weeks and had had close contact with the Payne family.

He repeated a request that the family be given the privacy that they have requested and asked that that should be considered "sacrosanct".

He said he did not know whether the family would wish to make another appearance before the media and added: "We play each day as it comes."

He paid tribute to the work of other forces who had been helping Sussex police with their inquiry and said the liaison between police forces across Britain would continue as the hunt for the killer went on.

He renewed appeals for sightings of the transit van seen in Kingston Lane, Kingston Gorse, during the first weekend of July when Sarah went missing.

He asked members of the public who may have seen a white van in the area of the A29 or in Littlehampton to come forward and contact police.

Mr Yeo said: "She was unclothed, the clothing we have yet to find. That's what we're looking for in the field.

"The parents have been told everything we know."

Mr and Mrs Payne, both 31, made frequent appeals for help in tracing their daughter during the 17-day search and never gave up hope of her being found alive.

Sarah was last seen near her grandparents' home at Kingston Gorse, near East Preston.

She had been playing with her brothers Lee, 13, and Luke, 11, and her sister Charlotte, aged six, after a family day on the beach.

Sarah set off home alone and although Lee followed he lost sight of her.

Lee told police he saw a white Ford Transit-style van in the area at the time.

A nationwide search followed. Residents of West Sussex turned out in force to help search the fields near where Sarah vanished. Police divers, sniffer dogs and the force helicopter were all used and members of the public were urged to check their gardens and farm outbuildings.

Sarah's distraught parents made repeated appeals for the safe return of "our little princess" and officers took more than 21,000 called from members of the public with information.

The family visited the police station to thank officers working on the case in person. Sarah's sister and brothers also made a thank you card for staff.

There was a suspected sighting of the little girl at a motorway service station in Cheshire and also possible sightings in Scotland.

Two men, from Littlehampton and Crawley, were arrested and questioned by police and released without charge.

Last night Sussex Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse visited the scene where the body was found to meet some of the officers working on the case.

He said it was important that they should feel appreciated as many had been working long hours throughout the inquiry.

The body, found face down, was partly hidden by high ferns and weeds. Little more than ten yards from a main road, dense undergrowth and hedgerows would have concealed the site from the thousands of motorists likely to have passed since the body was dumped.

From the road, the only sign the grim find behind the bushes and trees screening the field was the top of the white police tent erected over the site.

The entire field and the A29, which runs north through the West Sussex countryside from the coast, has been sealed off with police tape, casting an eerie silence over an area usually thundering with traffic.

The spot, about a mile from the centre of Pulborough, is one of several occupying farmland near Brinsbury College but is not part of college land.

College principle Christine Davis said: "Our first thoughts are with the family of the little girl and we are obviously keen to help the police in any way we can."

Residents living in the rolling countryside surrounding Brinsbury College spoke of their shock at hearing the news.

Colin Linney, 60, who lives only a quarter of a mile from where the body was found, said he had a premonition about it.

"I rang a pal and said we had to do something. We went beating bushes in woodland nearby.

"Then a police helicopter flew over the fields behind my house and afterwards I saw a news flash on Sky TV.

"It's horrifying to think a little girl was lying there."

Rachel Tuppen (correct), 31, teaches students with learning difficulties at the agricultural college.

She said: "It's absolutely sickening, it makes me feel physically sick.

"There's only one punishment that can fit that crime and hanging has been abolished."

Speaking outside her cottage, just a mile from the site, she added: "I'm so shocked. It sends shivers up your spine. This belongs to another part of the world."

Local builder Phillip Bicknell said: "It's incomprehensible. What sort of people are walking around in our community?"