Police have charged a Sussex man with the kidnap and murder of schoolgirl Sarah Payne.

Roy Whiting, 42, a mechanic formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, was arrested this morning in Kent and taken to Bognor police station.

He is due to appear before Chichester magistrates in the morning.

Media photographers and TV crews surrounded Bognor police station as Whiting, his head covered by a blanket, was brought in for questioning this morning.

Detective Superintendent Peter Kennett made the announcement that Whiting had been charged.

In a statement read to waiting reporters on the steps of the police station, he said: "At 3.20pm this afternoon Roy William Whiting was charged with the murder of Sarah Payne. He was also additionally charged with the kidnap of Sarah.

"He will be appearing at Chichester Magistrates' Court at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

"Sara and Michael (Sarah's parents) have been informed that Whiting has been charged."

Eight-year-old Sarah, from Hersham, Surrey, disappeared on July 1 from a field near her grandparents' home at Kingston Gorse, East Preston.

Her naked body was found in a field beside the A29 near Pulborough two weeks later.