Police hunting the killer of eight-year-old Sarah Payne have found what they think is one of her shoes.

It was near the tiny village of Coolham, about three miles from where her naked body was found near Pulborough.

The black velcro fastening shoe is a vital piece of evidence for detectives and they are keen to trace the other shoe and Sarah's dark blue Fred Perry-style sports dress.

The shoe was in a hedge 200 yards south of the A272 on the west side of the road, between three and four miles from where Sarah's body was found.

Police said the shoe, found by a local woman 36 hours ago, looked as if it had been casually discarded, with no effort made to conceal it.

Today a huge police search of the area was taking place for Sarah's blue dress, underwear and the other shoe.

Det Supt Peter Kennett, the new senior investigating officer on the inquiry, said the shoe had been sent for DNA tests to confirm it was Sarah's. He added: "It is also possible the tests will show fibre transfer from someone who was in contact with her. This is a big hope for us."

Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo, who is in overall charge of the investigation, said the discovery was "very significant".

He added: "In evidential terms I suppose the one thing I would be looking for that would be more significant would be the dress and the underwear."

Police say the discovery of the shoe has also given them valuable new clues about the route the killer took.

Detectives are also obtaining warrants to search a number of properties as the hunt continues for a set of rear doors, believed to have been removed from a white van the day after Sarah was abducted, together with wood panelling.

The breakthrough came just hours after it was revealed that campers heard a little girl's screams on the night Sarah vanished, July 1.

The campers, who were staying at a Fittleworth beauty spot, have only just come forward to report the chilling cries after realising their campsite was near where her body was discovered. They were being interviewed by officers today.

Meanwhile police are trying to put on a proper footing an arrangement for the donations which have started to flood into Littlehampton police station.

The family may use the cash to help pay for Sarah's funeral or a holiday for heartbroken brothers Lee, 13, and Luke, 11, and six-year-old sister Charlotte.

Cheques should be made payable to M Payne.

A second post mortem will be carried out to speed up the process of releasing Sarah's body to her parents. It means they will be able to go ahead with her funeral.

The post mortem will be carried out by a pathologist who is independent of the Home Office expert who conducted the first one for the police.

The findings will be available to the defence if anyone is charged with Sarah's murder.

Television bosses considered pulling tonight's episode of Burnside because of possible similarities with the Sarah Payne murder hunt.

In tonight's episode starring Hove actor Chris Ellison as detective Frank Burnside, his team investigate a serial killer who may be responsible for the death of a schoolgirl and three other young women, all would-be models.

The investigation is centred on the South Coast and there are shots of Sussex.

Det Con Sam Phillips, played by actress Zoe Eeles, goes undercover to snare the main suspect, a photographer.

A spokesman for Pearson TV, which makes Burnside, said: "We did discuss whether this episode should be shown.

"But the girls are very much older than Sarah Payne and models. The main story is about Sam Phillips going undercover. It is not a story about the murders of young girls."