Kate McCann's mother: 'I can't understand why the children were left alone'

Susan Healy, 61, told the Panorama interview: "I have to say that I'm surprised that Kate and Gerry left their children at all. I have thought about it a lot because they are such caring parents and I think 'why?'"

Mrs Healy, 61, has also repeated her concerns that efforts are being made to frame her daughter. "I'm worried that evidence is being planted," she said.

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Mrs Healy, of Allerton, Merseyside, added: "I know my daughter and I know how much Madeleine meant to her. My daughter had nothing to do with the disappearance of Madeleine."

Police have refused to reveal what alleged evidence they have against the McCanns. It is not the first time Mrs Healy has claimed that false evidence has been used in the case.

When the McCanns were made suspects she said: "This is a set-up. It must have been planted by the perpetrator.'The mother of Kate McCann fears that evidence is being planted to frame her daughter, she told yesterday.

Mrs Healy has also said she believed plotters might still be planting false evidence to make it appear that Mrs McCann and her husband Gerry were involved in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.

She told Panorama: "I'm worried that evidence is being planted."

Police have refused to reveal what alleged evidence they have against Mr and Mrs McCann, both 39, of Rothley, Leicestershire.

But the couple were made official suspects in the case after specialist sniffer dogs detected the "scent of death" in their hire car and microscopic traces of blood in their holiday apartment.

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It is not the first time Mrs Healy has claimed that false evidence has been used in the case.

Speaking when the McCanns were made arguidos and it was claimed that DNA had been found, Madeleine's grandmother said: "This is a set-up. It must have been planted by the perpetrator."

She went on: "I know why this is happening - the police are trying to frame them for murder. If there is any evidence to implicate Kate and Gerry in any way then it has been planted."