McCann's prayer vigil

Madeleine McCann's parents have held a prayer vigil for the 4-year-old six months after she disappeared.

Kate and Gerry McCann, both 39, arrived at the St Mary and St John church near their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday.

Madeleine vanished at around the same time of night on May 3 while the McCann family were on holiday in Praia da Luz in Portugal.

Scores of locals joined the McCanns in the church, which was guarded by police.

The couple said nothing as they arrived, but a spokesman said the visit was not part of any campaign to keep Madeleine's name in the public eye: "They are here to say prayers and nothing else.

"For them this is just another day without Madeleine."

Family friend Val Armstrong said: "They are so resolute in this. They are convinced that she is still alive and that is what we have to believe.

"I didn't think that we would still be here six months down the line.

"We pray every day and we'll continue to pray.

"Madeleine is just a little girl from our village as far as we are concerned."

Over the past six months a number of theories have been put forward as to what happened on the night of Madeleine's disappearance, some of which have targeted her parents as suspects.

However, the McCanns maintain that their daughter was abducted, and recently released an artist's impression of the man they believe took her.

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