Top Sussex detectives who worked on the Sarah Payne case have been drafted in to help in the hunt for a missing schoolgirl.

Amanda Dowler, 13, went missing in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, a week ago. Fears are growing that she has been abducted.

Surrey Police still have no firm leads despite a massive search and hundreds of calls from the public.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine and Detective Superintendent Alan Ladley have been drafted in from the Sussex force to advise the investigation team.

They will use expertise gained during the 17-day search for Sarah in July 2000.

Sarah, eight, whose body was found after a massive search, grew up in Hersham within miles of the Dowler family.

She went missing from near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston. Her body was eventually found 20 miles away.

Sarah's killer, Roy Whiting from Littlehampton, was later jailed for life.

Mr Ladley said the cases had similarities but officers are holding out hope for Amanda's return because of her age.

He said: "We are going to offer support to the team in Surrey in the early stages of the investigation and to pass on what we learned during the Sarah Payne case."

He said a teenager was more likely to have gone off of her own accord than an eight-year old, but added: "Abduction is a possibility, and one we cannot afford to ignore.

"The Surrey officers are keeping an open mind but the likelihood of abduction does become more likely as time moves on.

"Of course we hold out hope of Amanda being found, but we also have to look into the blackest hole as a possibility."

Both officers will remain in Surrey until the end of next week to offer advice and cast a fresh perspective over the investigation.

The search was expected to be broadened today, with new areas being targeted from aerial helicopter photographs.

Amanda's parents Bob and Sally - who is 43 today - broke down yesterday as they spoke of their fears that their daughter had been abducted.

Mr Dowler, 50, an IT consultant, said: "It's the thing I don't want to think or believe, but it seems to be the only logical explanation."