Murder victim Sarah Payne's uncle, Paul Williams, has died aged 44.

BA supervisor Mr Williams helped search for his niece and rode his motorbike across the Downs for hours after she was kidnapped in July 2000.

Mr Williams, who lived with his partner Jacquie, 47, in Upper Beeding, near Steyning, died on Wednesday after a battle with cancer.

Sarah's mother, Sara, said: "Paul was a great strength and comfort to us all. He worked tirelessly when Sarah went missing.

"He was wonderful and we shall all miss him dearly."

Mr Williams attended every day at Lewes Crown Court throughout the trial of Roy Whiting who was jailed for life for Sarah's kidnap and murder.

Sarah, eight, was playing in cornfields near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, Ferring, near Littlehampton, when she was snatched.

Mr Williams, who has two grown-up daughters Sonja and Beverley, worked as a supervisor for British Airways flights at Gatwick.

He spent nearly 20 years in the Army and was a tank commander in Germany.

Mr Williams, in an interview with The Argus, said: "I saw Sarah regularly. She was always a polite and courteous little girl. She and all the children were taught to say please and thank you and never to be disrespectful of others."

Mr Williams said the entire family closed ranks when Sarah disappeared and their bond was stronger then ever.

He is one of six children and there were 16 grandchildren, a close-knit family who have regular get-togethers.

Mr Williams helped The Argus when it published reward posters for Sarah and a friend at Southern Water displayed them on service vehicles.

His partner said: "I remember saying "Wouldn't it be nice if some local businessman put some money up? Then we went into the kitchen and there was The Argus with its £5,000 reward on the front page."

Mr Williams supported Sara and Michael Payne's campaign for a "Sarah's Law," providing a register of paedophiles for members of the public to inspect, and he was rarely seen without a Sarah's Law badge.