Silent prayer for missing Madeleine

A one minute silence - initiated by an anonymous chain email circulated around Portugal at the weekend - was observed at midday.

In the village of Praia Da Luz, where Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was snatched 18 days ago, shoppers and workers stood still to think of the little girl.

The initiative was given the blessing of the family who are spearheading a campaign to imprint Madeleine's image on the minds of people across Europe and North Africa in the hope that she will be found.

They are convinced that she is alive and well despite no news of her whereabouts for two-and-a-half weeks.

The anonymous initiative was publicised in the Portuguese and British media this morning while others joined in, hearing of what was happening just minutes before.

Madeleine's mother Kate, who is apart from her husband for the first time since the abduction as he is in the UK on a flying visit, observed the silence privately in her holiday apartment.

She slipped inside the flat just before noon having spent almost 50 minutes kneeling with a friend at the village church in silent prayer.

The church has been open to the public daily for people to pray.

As Mrs McCann, yellow and green ribbons in her hair, knelt at the front from 11am, a steady trickle of tourists stepped inside apparently unaware that the woman was Mrs McCann.