The mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been rushed to hospital almost two years after surviving a life-threatening stroke.

Sara Payne, who was given a 50/50 chance of living following a massive brain seizure at the end of 2009, "collapsed in agony" at her home this morning and was taken to hospital, her friend and fellow child welfare campaigner Shy Keenan said.

Ms Keenan said: "I was with her when it happened and called 999 and although we don't know what's wrong yet, she is in the very best possible hands and just needs us to keep her in our thoughts."

Ms Payne became a tireless campaigner on child abuse issues after her eight-year-old daughter Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000.

She founded the campaign group Phoenix Chiefs with Ms Keenan.