The parents of missing Sarah Payne sobbed and hugged each other as they told of the messages they have received from well-wishers across the country.

Sara and Michael Payne said they had received cards, flowers and even food from neighbours.

Speaking at a press conference last night as the search for Sarah continued, Mr Payne described his daughter as a happy girl who loved to listen to music and dress up.

He said: "She used to go to dance classes after school and loves her dance and pop music. She likes to dress up like a lady and play around with make-up.

"She's always happy, always bouncing around. She's just terrific.

Her mother spoke directly to Sarah when she said: "Look at all these people looking for you and the flowers, someone sent flowers.

"You will be home soon. I promise you, you will be home soon, you really will."

Mr Payne said: "Someone is going to tell us something and we will go straight there and come and get you."

Mrs Payne described the family's daily routine during their traumatic ordeal.

She said: "People have been brilliant, bringing us pots of food.

"We are trying very hard to make the children eat. They don't want to and we are not pressuring them.

"As for ourselves, we are just doing whatever we can during the day.

"Personally, I don't sleep. I collapse when my body has enough at three or four in the morning and then get up at six."

She said she and her husband had been stopped in the street by strangers offering support during the investigation.

She said: "We went out for a little bit of quality time last night and people were turning back in their cars to wish us well, giving us ideas, which is what we need."

Mr Payne said he, his wife and their children had escaped from the pressures of the investigation to spend some time together last night.

He said: "We just went out for a little walk with just us and the kids. That's all we could do."

Mrs Payne said: "We let Charlotte have a bit of a run. They had some questions they needed to ask and we answered them. We got a lot of talking done."

With tears in her eyes, Mrs Payne read out some of the messages from local schoolchildren.

One read: "We are thinking of you and hope you find her soon. We want to help you so tell us what to do."

Another card read: "We are thinking of you and Sarah. Don't give up, she will be home soon."

Mrs Payne said all the cards would be kept, adding: "We are saving everything for Sarah to show her when she comes home."

Sarah vanished from fields at West Kingston, near Ferring, as she visited her grandparents on Saturday.

Two men who were questioned in connection with her disappearance have been released on police bail.