As Roy Whiting started the first day of his new life in jail yesterday, the people of Sussex came to terms with the knowledge the killer had lived in their community.

Some laid flowers by the side of the A29 at Pulborough, close to where Whiting buried Sarah's naked body.

A bowl of flowers surrounded by cuddly toys bore a message saying: "Sarah, you will never be forgotten."

Someone had left a mug with Sarah printed on it and a description of how the name means Princess.

After Sarah vanished her parents told a news conference how they always called their daughter "our little princess".

In Littlehampton, where Whiting had lived in St Augustine Road overlooking a seafront playground following his first conviction, the community could talk about only one subject.

Newsagent Ken Hubert, who sold Whiting his daily paper, said customers were glad he would never be released.

He said: "I think the people who knew him were surprised. He came in here and seemed like a nice chap but then you just don't know."

Mr Hubert runs Websters, in Norfolk Road, and Whiting also walked to the shop from his nearby flat to collect a magazine about the building trade which he had on order.

He said: "I don't think anyone round here who met him suspected what type of person he really was."

Licensee Ginny Frankham, who runs the Locomotive pub near the town's railway station, said the case had cast a shadow over the town.

She said: "The town has been much quieter."

Miss Frankham said the trial had been the main talking point in the pub and reaction had been mixed after the jury delivered its verdicts.

She said: "There was elation because he had been found guilty but a lot of anger over what he had done before, especially when you think that he was living opposite a kiddies' playground."

Mothers in Littlehampton have backed a campaign by their MP Nick Gibb to know if there could be other potential child killers living on their doorstep.

Mr Gibb is demanding an urgent meeting with the Acting Chief Constable of Sussex Maria Wallis to raise what he says are the concerns of the community.

He said: "After this shocking case, people in Littlehampton want reassurances from the police that the town is not being targeted by paedophiles."