The mother of murdered British schoolgirl Sarah Payne was left "absolutely devastated" after being told by police that her phone may have been hacked by a private investigator used by the News of the World.

Sara Payne, who worked closely with the Sunday paper to campaign for tougher child protection laws, previously said she had not been told she was a victim of phone hacking.

But her friend Shy Keenan confirmed Scotland Yard had since informed her that her contact details were found on a list compiled by private detective Glenn Mulcaire.

Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, who became close friends with Ms Payne during the paper's campaign, said the latest allegations were "abhorrent".