The father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne was befriended by the killer of Milly Dowler, his family have revealed.

Michael Payne, who was found dead in his flat in Maidstone last week, became close to serial killer Levi Bellfield at the height of his killing spree.

Bellfield, who also murdered Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, met 45-year-old Mr Payne in the Ashley Park pub in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, and would regularly drink with him.

Mr Payne's family told national media he was utterly distraught after finding out about Bellfield's crimes when police arrested him in 2004.

His brother Keith, 53, said he was sure Bellfield knew exactly who his brother was and that the former bouncer used to boast about being friends with the family.

Mr Payne, who moved to Brishing Lane in Park Wood to be close to his family, struggled with drink following the tragic death of eight-year-old Sarah in 2000.

She was snatched by paedophile Roy Whiting as she played in a field in West Sussex in July 2000. Her body was found 16 days later 15 miles away near Pulborough.

Mr Payne had struggled with alcohol since her murder and ended his 18-year marriage to wife Sara in 2003.

When he met Bellfield he was living near the station where Milly was last seen in 2002.

Bellfield was sentenced for the murder of the 13-year-old in 2011. In 2008 he was handed a life sentence for the murders of Amelie Delagrange, 22, and 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell.

Last week Mr Payne's brother Alan, 47, who lives in Lancashire Road, Park Wood, spoke of the family's grief following the discovery of Michael's body by police on Monday evening.

Sara Payne, 45, received an MBE and honorary doctorate for her work campaigning for Sarah's Law, a change in legislation allowing parents to know if convicted child sex offenders live nearby.