A paedophile who killed schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been stabbed in the eye by a fellow prison inmate.

Roy Whiting is believed to have been taken to hospital for treatment after the alleged assault in Wakefield Prison, in West Yorkshire, yesterday morning.

The Sun reported that he was attacked by a makeshift knife yards from his cell.

Whiting, 52, was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 for murdering Sarah.

He snatched the eight-year-old from outside her grandparents’ home in Ferring, near Worthing, in July 2000.

Her body was found in nearby Pulborough 17 days later.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers were called to an incident involving two prisoners at Wakefield Prison at around 8.39am yesterday morning, but would not comment on their identities.

"We were called in relation to an allegation of assault at Wakefield Prison just after 8.39am yesterday morning," said the spokesman.

"We were contacted by prison staff who informed us there had been a fight between two prisoners.

"One of the inmates received injuries but they are not thought to be life threatening."

A Prison Service spokesperson said yesterday: "A prisoner at HMP Wakefield was assaulted this morning and received an eye injury. He was treated in the prison's healthcare wing.

"HMP Wakefield manages violent and dangerous prisoners every day and events such as this are rare. The bravery and speedy response of staff ensured that this incident was dealt with swiftly and effectively."

Police confirmed that the injured inmate received treatment at the prison, before staff took him to Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield for further care.

The force spokesman said that no criminal complaints had been made by the injured person, so the incident was not being investigated.

"There was no criminal allegation of assault made to the police so we will not be investigating," he said.

In 2002, Whiting was attacked with a razor blade by fellow Wakefield inmate Rickie Tregaskis.