A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after police were given a false tip-off about missing Sarah Payne.

A youth phoned three times, saying he had seen the eight-year-old being dropped off near the Body Shop headquarters in Littlehampton in the early hours of yesterday.

Seventeen police units, plain clothes officers, dog handlers and the force helicopter wasted three hours searching the area.

Police traced mobile phone calls made from the area at the time and later surrounded a house in Littlehampton.

A youth was arrested and a mobile phone, which had been reported as stolen, was seized.

The 14-year-old was being questioned today about the malicious call and it is understood he is already facing 13 other charges.

Police said there had been several malicious calls concerning Sarah.

The Monday morning search alone cost thousands of pounds and diverted officers from genuine inquiries.

Chief Insp Mike Alderson today slammed the hoax callers.

He said: "Officers are working extremely long hours and malicious calls are making our job that much harder and waste precious time.

"We would appeal to anyone who thinks they have legitimate information to get in touch straight away."