McCanns lobby MEPs in Strasbourg

Madeleine McCann's parents have embarked on a series of meetings with MEPs in Strasbourg.

The couple, from Rothley in Leicestershire, launched a campaign in April for a Europe-wide alert system for abducted children but now fear time is running out in their bid to achieve formal recognition of the scheme.

Gerry and Kate McCann have until July 24 - the close of the plenary session - to collect the signatures needed to ensure that their proposal, in the form of a written declaration, is sent to the EU President and published.

They have so far collected 225 signatures, leaving them another 168 to collect.

The Euro-sceptic party refuses to sign declarations on a point of principle, but Mr and Mrs McCann hope it will make an exception in their case.

Speaking after their arrival at the parliament building, Mr McCann said: "This is an important issue and Europe needs to work together. We want to get as many signatures as possible but there's limited time left."

Madeleine went missing from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3 last year.

The McCanns believe a European version of Amber Alert - which notifies the public via media across the US when police confirm a child has been abducted - would have helped the search for their daughter in the crucial hours after her disappearance.

Speaking ahead of the meeting later, their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "It's a chance for Gerry and Kate to be updated on the progress of the declaration so far. While talking to supportive MEPs, it's also an opportunity to reinforce the importance of such a system being introduced to those who have not already signed."

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