After four months Madeleine's mother says 'My world has fallen apart'

It has been four months since Madeleine vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve.

Kate McCann said she could scarcely believe so long had passed since she last heard her "beautiful" daughter's giggle.

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Yesterday she and Gerry attended mass at the tiny whitewashed church in Praia da Luz and was comforted by regulars in the congregation.

Mrs McCann said earlier: "It is four months since Gerry and I have heard our daughter laugh, seen her smile, read her a story, given her a cuddle. "Four months of not knowing what our beautiful daughter has had to endure. Four months since that cold night when our world fell apart."

The 39-year-old GP vowed to continue searching for Madeleine, even though the McCanns are preparing to wind down their daily campaign in the Algarve and return home to Rothley, Leicestershire.

She said: "We believe Madeleine was taken alive from her bed. We don't know who took her, why she was taken or where she is.

"As parents, we cannot give up on our daughter until we know what has happened. We have to keep doing everything we can to find her. As parents, we still believe she is alive.

"Each day Gerry and I get up and say, Today could be the day Madeleine comes home. We have to keep hoping.

"We will leave no stone unturned to find our lovely little girl."

The McCanns are campaigning for political action after learning that great swathes of Europe are havens for sex offenders.

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They want an EU-wide register of sex offenders and greater sharing of information about those banned from working with children.

Mrs McCann said: "Over these past terrible months, Gerry and I have learnt much about missing and abducted children. We have been shocked to learn the truth. Sex offenders can roam around with no checks."

Kate and Gerry have remained in the Algarve with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie in the desperate hope that Madeleine will be found.

But with the police investigation floundering, and the McCanns themselves suffering increasingly hostile sniping from Portuguese media, they are preparing to go home after the lease on their rented villa expires mid-month.

The community in Rothley is preparing to welcome them, and four local church groups met at the weekend to contribute prayers to the little girl's safe return.

Consultant cardiologist Mr McCann, also 39, said: "We would like to thank everyone who is praying for Madeleine and all those who have sent us messages of support - you do help to maintain our strength and focus."

The McCanns told the Sun newspaper that when they are at their lowest they use a three-word Portuguese mantra to lift their spirits: esperanca, forca, coragen (hope, strength, courage).

The phrase was given to them by Father Manuel Pacheco at the Praia da Luz church.

Churchgoers in Praia da Luz have created a ball of green wool symbolising hope for Madeleine, which has given her parents strength.

They used the wool to form a chain of support shortly after Madeleine was snatched, and it still helps Kate and Gerry believe they will be reunited with the missing four-year-old.

Her great aunt Janet Kennedy, addressing a special prayer service in Rothley on Saturday, said: "Although Kate and Gerry have lost Madeleine, they have gained a great deal - people's love and support, messages of hope, gifts for the children.

"It is a very, very hard journey for them but people are accompanying them all the way. I am astounded by their strength and perseverance."

The retired teacher told how the parish priest in Praia da Luz "has a ball of green wool which he passed around the church and everyone became part of that chain".