Madeleine's dad: I'm dreading Father's Day

Heart consultant Gerry McCann also admitted the thought of police finding the four-year-old's body was "terrifying".

Sitting less than 50 yards from where his daughter was snatched in Portugal 45 days ago, Mr McCann's face showed obvious strain when Father's Day was mentioned.

"I can't think about last year and how we spent it, I honestly can't,' he said. "My thoughts are focused on the campaign and continually looking forward.

"I can't really think about anything else, other than how we can help try and get Madeleine back. I literally find it hard to think about anything else."

Mr McCann, 39, and GP wife Kate, 38, from Rothley, Leicestershire, faced fresh agony after a tip-off in a letter said Madeleine's body was buried on waste land nine miles from where she was snatched in the resort of Praia da Luz.

Portuguese police have now stopped searching the scrubland.

But Mr McCann revealed the couple's continual torment by saying: "The thought of a very public, in-the-media search, with Madeleine coming out of it dead was extremely upsetting.

Kate wasn't good. When we found out where the area was, it crossed her mind to go up there.

"You brace yourself. When it seemed the letter may have some credibility it was very, very distressing. It was terrifying, actually."

The McCanns took their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie to a zoo on and planned to spend Father's Day quietly together.

They revealed they still have not told the twins that Madeleine has gone and have consulted a child psychologist on the best approach.

Mr McCann said: "We haven't told them specifically that she has gone. They are too young at the minute."

This Friday, on the 50th day since Madeleine disappeared, the couple plan to release 50 balloons with her image on them in 50 countries.