Mother of murdered child latest alleged victim in News of the World scandal

The mother of a murdered British schoolgirl is reportedly the latest alleged victim in the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

Sarah Payne is "absolutely devastated" after reportedly being told by police that her phone may have been hacked by a private investigator used by the now defunct newspaper.

The allegations concern a phone she was given by the Sunday paper so that she could stay in touch with her supporters as she was working with News of the World in a campaign for tougher child protection laws, The Guardian reports.

Sarah Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter was abducted and murdered in 2000, said she had not been told she was a victim of phone hacking, Associated Press reports.

Former News of the World editor Rebecca Brooks – who is facing charges over the wider phone hacking scandal – has said such an act is "unthinkable".

Brookes and Payne became close friends during the campaign and she even wrote a farewell column for the paper on July 10 calling the staff her "good and trusted friends", The Guardian reports.

It reports that Payne has been informed by Scotland Yard that her details were found in private investigator Glenn Mulcaire's notes.

Brooks said in a statement: "For the benefit of the campaign for Sarah's law, the News of the World have provided Sara with a mobile telephone for the last 11 years. It was not a personal gift.

"The idea that anyone on the newspaper knew that Sara or the campaign team were targeted by [investigator Glenn] Mr Mulcaire is unthinkable. The idea of her being targeted is beyond my comprehension," she said, AP reports.

"It is imperative for Sara and the other victims of crime that these allegations are investigated and those culpable brought to justice."

Friends of Payne have told the Guardian that she is "absolutely devastated and deeply disappointed" at the disclosure.