'We'll NEVER give up looking for Maddie,' say McCanns after saying Christmas Day prayers for her

The couple and their two-year-old twins spent Christmas Day with relatives in North Yorkshire but their thoughts remained with Madeleine.

They took Sean and Amelie to Mass at St Stephen's Church in Skipton where they said special prayers for their little girl.

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Writing on his internet diary, Mr McCann said: "Madeleine should not be spending Christmas away from her loving family."

On Christmas Eve Mr and Mrs McCann, both 39, made a video broadcast imploring any abductor to return their daughter.

Mr McCann said: "This was a desperate attempt to get someone who knows what happened to Madeleine to come forward and end our misery and the dreadful situation for everyone."

It has emerged that the appeal had brought in 347 calls to the McCanns's private detective agency Metodo 3 - lines of inquiry which are now being followed up.

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Mr McCann said he and his wife had been sent hundreds of Christmas cards at their home in Rothley, Leicestershire.

He said each one had helped renew the family's determination to find Madeleine.

The McCanns wanted to try to give their twins as normal a Christmas as possible.

They bought presents for the children but Mr McCann's sister Philomena said none of the adults in the family was exchanging presents because they did not want to celebrate without Madeleine.

Mrs McCann's aunt Janet Kennedy said the entire family would never give up their search for Madeleine. Mrs Kennedy, 68, said: "The motto has changed. Rather than not leaving any stone unturned, it is that we never, never give up hope.

"Eight months on we have become more determined and resolute."

The family's prayers for Madeleine were echoed in church services across Britain.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said in his Christmas message that Madeleine's abduction from her parents' holiday apartment in Portugal was an example of God being "violated and blasphemed".

In Praia da Luz, Anglican vicar Haynes Hubbard led prayers for the child, who he called "our little sister". Speaking before the service, he said: "She is always in the back of our minds and every day we think about her and pray that one day she will be reunited with her loving family."

Thousands of toys left for Madeleine at a war memorial in Rothley during the summer were sent to orphanages in Belarus in October and given to children who had no toys of their own.

More presents have been sent for Madeleine and the twins since then and the family have said they will consider sending more gifts to charity.

Mrs Kennedy said: "Kate and Gerry think it is tremendous. It helps the healing process by bringing joy to other children."

Spanish private detectives at Metodo 3 had said they hoped to find Madeleine in time for Christmas.

However, the agency - hired by the Find Madeleine fund at a cost of £50,000 a month - has so far failed to uncover any concrete evidence about what happened to her and its contract will be reviewed in the New Year.

The McCanns and British ex-pat Robert Murat remain the only named suspects in the investigation.

They have all denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. Mr Murat, 34, spent Christmas in Praia da Luz with his elderly mother Jennifer.