The brothers and sister of murdered Sarah Payne are to receive a national award for their courageous response to the killing.

Lee, 13, Luke, 12, and little Charlotte, six, showed bravery beyond their years when they attended Press conferences and made appeals on TV.

And at home they have played a huge part in helping their parents, Sara and Michael, come to terms with their grief.

On December 13 the children will receive a Woman's Own Children Of Courage award at a gala bash to be attended by a host of big-name celebrities.

Sarah disappeared while playing with her siblings in a field near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, near Worthing, on July 1.

A major police search swung into action involving hundreds of volunteers, but it ended on July 17 when the eight-year-old's body was discovered on farmland near Pulborough.

Thousands of mourners lined the streets for her funeral. Detectives are still hunting the killer.

Mrs Payne, from Surrey, said: "The kids definitely deserve an award. They have been brilliant. They not only keep each other going, but they keep us going too.

"They have had to cope with so much and people forget they also have to get on with their everyday lives. They're normal kids at the end of the day. It'll be a brilliant day out."