The mother of murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne today joined in welcoming a scheme to "combat the evil" of paedophile child abductors.

Sara Payne released 1,000 balloons to mark the launch of Child Rescue Alert, which uses news flashes on TV and radio to appeal for help in quickly tracing kidnapped children.

Sussex Police today became the first force in Europe to launch the initiative, based on an American system called Amber Alert.

At the launch in Brighton, Mrs Payne said: "If this initiative can save just one life in 20 years then it will be worth it.

"It does save lives, it's cost effective and it really works. One thing we learned in Sarah's case is that when the police and the media work together things can get done.

"We will never know if this initiative would have worked in Sarah's case. Hindsight is a wonderful thing."

Sarah was abducted in July 2000 from a field near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston. She was killed by paedophile Roy Whiting, who was later jailed for life.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine launched Child Rescue Alert at Brighton Racecourse today in memory of all children who have been abducted.

He paid particular tribute to Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, Millie Dowler and Sarah Payne.

He said: "Over the last couple of years we have been rocked by the awful tragedies of children being abducted and murdered.

"Rarely do we see such grief other than perhaps at the death of a princess, but our children are princes and princesses to us.

"This initiative for me is a missing part of the jigsaw. We are working hard at prevention and getting better at investigation and now we have a plan that could save children's lives.

"Our hearts go out to the families of Holly and Jessica, of Millie and Sarah and I launch this scheme in their memory."

Actor Chris Ellison, who starred in ITV police drama The Bill and who lives in Brighton, addressed the launch saying: "I have no credentials to talk here apart from being a parent who has been appalled by the worst possible crime that can be committed.

"This initiative will go some way to help combat this evil in our midst."

The US Amber Alert system was set up following the murder of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman in Dallas, Texas.

Child Rescue Alert will work in a similar way, with TV and radio stations interrupting broadcasts with urgent appeals.

The system will only be used if there is real concern that a child is in imminent danger of harm or death.

The project manager, Detective Chief Inspector Martyn Underhill, led the investigation into Sarah Payne's death in July 2000.

He said: "Child Rescue Alert really could mean the difference between life and death, although it will only be used in certain circumstances.

"It is not something we plan to use often, but when the need arises it will be implemented with the sole aim of finding that child alive."