Sara and Mike Payne

The mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has announced she is expecting another child.

Sara Payne said her husband Mike, daughter Charlotte, and sons Lee and Luke were all delighted at the news.

The 34-year-old told the News of the World: "It is a new baby and a new life, and I know that Sarah will be wearing her biggest grin, and hopefully will send us a rainbow."

Mrs Payne said the baby had been unplanned and admitted that she and Mike had initially been in a state of shock.

She told the paper: "We were both very confused at first, obviously it is a strange time for us both, considering what happened to Sarah.

'Do we or don't we?'

"But we are absolutely delighted now that we have got our heads around this.

"We always thought that the worst thing would be to bring a new baby into the family, because we felt we kind of messed up since Sarah's death.

"It's not been easy. We were very protective and when something like this has happened once, although it was a chance in a million, there are no guarantees it won't happen again.

We are a family who always celebrated life, especially a new life Sara Payne

"Also, how does a child come into a family with Sarah as their sister? A sister they will never get to know.

"On a different level we are a family who always celebrated life, especially a new life.

"I think at first when we heard the news, we were really worried about the children's reaction, which I have to say has been happiness all round.

"But when we first learned about the baby we were very much 'do we or don't we?'

"We decided a long time ago, after we had Charlotte, that we wouldn't have more children.

"But we felt we couldn't bring ourselves not to bring this child into this world."

Sarah's law

Eight-year-old Sarah disappeared from her grandparents' home in West Sussex in July 2000, and her body was found 17 days later near the village of Pulborough.

Roy Whiting, 42, who had been the main police suspect from the start, was eventually convicted of her murder and jailed for life in December 2001.

We will press for changes in the law to make sure parents have the right to know if there is a threat from a high risk sex offender in their area Sara Payne

Sara Payne has been at the forefront of the News of the World's campaign for tougher controls on convicted sex offenders, which includes parents being allowed to find out if a sex offender is living in their area.

She told the paper that whilst the pregnancy would mean she would have to delay her planned return to work, it would not affect her commitment to the campaign.

"We will press for changes in the law to make sure parents have the right to know if there is a threat from a high-risk sex offender in their area."

Sarah's grandmother, Lesley Payne, said she hoped the baby would enter a safer world than the one that claimed the life of her granddaughter.

She said: "It's great, it will be nice to have another child within the family.

"I have spoken to her [Sara] and they are pleased about it but I think it was just a bit of a shock.

"I don't think she'll mind if it is a boy or a girl as long as he or she is fit and healthy."