Mother prays for girl's safe return

Kate McCann lined up with Portuguese women to lay flowers at the altar of the village church in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve at a poignant service to honour motherhood.

Accompanied by husband Gerry and relatives who have flown out from the UK Mrs McCann attended mass with the local community to pray for Madeleine's safe return three days after her disappearance.

The three-year-old went missing from the family's holiday apartment where she was sleeping with her younger brother and sister, twins Amelie and Sean, while their parents just yards away.

Portuguese police have said that they believe she was snatched but offered hope saying they think she is still alive. With police stopping cars on nearby roads, search teams scouring the surrounding countryside and airports across the country on alert, officers say they believe she is still in Portugal.

In a public display of unity, the family attended the church of Nossa Senora Da Luz, on the day the congregation were marking mother's day.

After the service Mrs McCann stood to address reporters, breaking down with emotion.

She said: "Gerry and I would just like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to everybody but particularly the local community here who have offered so much support. We couldn't have asked for more. Please continue to pray for Madeleine."

Her husband told how the family still had hope.

"From today's service the thing that we are going to take away is strength and courage and hope and we continue to hope for the best outcome from this for us and for Madeleine."