Relatives of Sarah Payne have spoken following the news that a 41-year-old man is about to be arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Paul Williams, Sarah's 42-year-old uncle, said: "We are all keeping in close contact. We are watching developments with keen interest, as you can imagine."

We exclusively revealed yesterday how Roy Whiting, formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, is expected to be arrested early next week, possibly on Tuesday, in Sheerness in Kent.

Whiting had been arrested twice previously, once just 24 hours after Sarah disappeared on July 1 from a field near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston.

Her naked body was found in a field beside the A29 near Pulborough two weeks later.

Detective Superintendent Peter Kennett, heading what has proved to be the biggest murder hunt in Sussex, declined to comment on what he termed "operational matters", but sources confirmed Whiting's arrest was imminent.

One said: "He is to be questioned following the receipt of new forensic evidence."

Mr Kennett said Sarah's family - her parents Michael and Sara, her brothers and sisters and her grandparents - had been kept informed of developments.

Sarah's uncle, who spent days helping search for his niece, said Sarah's parents and grandparents were having a break and were away from their homes.