Parents in Madeleine birthday plea

Gerry and Kate McCann urged people to mark the day by redoubling their efforts to find Madeleine who was snatched from her bed nine days ago.

The couple said that offers of support which had been pouring in on a daily basis were keeping them strong and giving them hope.

On Friday night the couple, showing the strain of more than a week of turmoil, were honoured with spontaneous applause by villagers after a packed late night vigil in the village church at the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve.

The couple were having dinner in a restaurant a stone's throw from the apartment they had been staying in when they returned to find their daughter was missing.

Her younger twin siblings Sean and Amelie were also sleeping in the apartment but were unharmed.

Marking the day in private they issued a statement which was read out by Alex Woolfall on behalf of Mark Warner Holidays which operates the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz.

Their message said simply: "Today is our daughter Madeleine's fourth birthday. We would like to mark today by asking people to redouble their efforts to help find Madeleine.

"We know that there is already a huge amount of effort and resource being put into the search for our daughter. We also know that offers of support are being made daily. It is this that keeps us strong and gives us hope.

"On Madeleine's birthday, please keep looking, please keep praying, please help bring Madeleine home."