Two top detectives have been honoured for their dogged determination in bringing Sarah Payne's killer to justice.

Brighton-based Detective Inspector Martyn Underhill and Detective Superintendent Alan Ladley led Operation Maple - the biggest and most complex crime inquiry in Sussex Police history.

Before receiving recognition on behalf of their team by Sussex Police Authority, they spoke of the emotional burden of investigating "one child death too many" which was to outrage the nation.

Operation Maple started on July 1 last year when eight-year-old Sarah disappeared from a country lane near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston.

Sixteen days later her body was found in a shallow grave in a field near Pulborough.

It took months of painstaking forensic work to gather enough evidence linking prime suspect Roy Whiting, 42, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, to Sarah.

But on December 12, he was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court for her abduction and murder.

Mr Underhill, 43, from Hailsham, has dealt with 25 murders in his career. He worked closely with Sarah's parents Sara and Michael.

He said: "There was an enormous amount of pressure because of the high profile - the public and the family wanted a result.

"It was one child death too many and it angered the public - they were outraged.

"One of my memories of the time was the huge roller coaster of emotions I went through with the family. Another was how many disciplines came together in the first 48 hours and teamwork.

"My last thought is with the family. Sarah Payne is not coming back. As a parent and a grandparent, that's a sobering thought."

Mr Ladley, 45, from Bognor, added: "I'm getting inundated with letters of appreciation from police across the country as well as members of the public saying their faith in the police service has been restored."

Authority chairman David Rogers gave a vote of thanks at the meeting in Lewes, East Sussex, today.

He said: "Words fail me to express how humble we all are on the police authority of the dedication and professionalism shown throughout the investigation by officers, support staff and special constabulary."

He added: "Their selfless dedication must be a lesson to us all."