McCanns: 'Predator' was watching us

In the personal video, filmed by a family friend in August and to be screened on the BBC's Panorama programme, he speaks about a "window of opportunity" taken by an abductor.

The thought made him and his wife Kate "sick to the core", he said.

Mr McCann said that before Madeleine disappeared, he and his wife became concerned by the security at the back of their Praia da Luz holiday apartment when "maybe the weak spots were at the front".

In the footage, filmed in Portugal by friend Jon Corner, he said: "It's a corner flat with trees overlooking it. Somebody could be hiding there or watching out of view."

He added: "I've no doubt that Madeleine was targeted and that makes us sick to the core to think that someone was watching us and our daughter and then targeted her. I think the true word is a predator. But you just don't think there's any trouble and it's certainly the furthest thing from our mind."

Also in the film, Mrs McCann talks of the pressures posed by the campaign to find Madeleine and her regret at leaving their children alone in the apartment on the night of May 3.

She said: "There's not a textbook about it, is there? Like what to do when your daughter gets abducted.

"It's awful and horrible for anyone to have to go through and we are just doing what we think is best."

Panorama: The Mystery Of Madeleine McCann will screen on BBC One at 9pm on Monday.