The mother of murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne has spoke of her sympathy for the parents of missing Milly Dowler.

Sara Payne, whose daughter was abducted and killed in July 2000, said: "Milly's parents have shown tremendous strength but they must be being ripped apart inside."

She urged them to "stay strong and hopeful" as they endured the agonising wait for news of their 14-year-old daughter who has been missing for 100 days.

Mrs Payne was speaking at a fun day in West Sussex organised to mark the second anniversary of Sarah's disappearance and to launch a record backing a campaign to change the law relating to paedophiles.

Amanda Dowler: Missing since March

She said: "We had to wait 17 days for news on Sarah and that was bad enough.

"What they must be going through is a living hell. I don't how they are coping.

"I would say to them stay strong, stay hopeful and stay together."

Sarah's grandfather Brian Williams, a spiritualist minister, led prayers for Milly at the fun day in Shoreham, West Sussex.

Balloons released

Amanda Dowler, who was known as Milly to friends and family, vanished in March while walking home from the train station in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

Eight-year-old Sarah was murdered in July 2000

Sarah's parents Sara and Michael, her brothers Lee and Luke and her sister Charlotte, now seven, then watched as 10 lilac balloons were released to mark the second anniversary of the youngster's disappearance on July 1, 2000.

The event, staged by the British Safe House Association, was chosen as the platform from which to launch a new song - Sarah's World - written to warn of the dangers posed by paedophiles, and to back the call for Sarah's Law.

The law would force authorities to tell residents of known paedophiles living near to their homes.

A spokesman for singer-songwriter Mark Scott, who also penned Cher's smash hit Believe, said: "It's a powerful song and the lyrics reflect the overwhelming need for us all to be aware of the dangers that face the nation's children."

For months Sara and Michael Payne have been urging Home Secretary David Blunkett to give the public access to the national sex offenders register.