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Search continues for missing girl Search extended for missing girl
(about 2 hours later)
Portuguese police are continuing their search for a three-year-old British girl believed to have been abducted from a holiday apartment. Portuguese police have widened their search for a three-year-old British girl believed to have been abducted.
Madeleine McCann, from Leicestershire, went missing on Thursday night from the Mark Warner resort in Praia da Luz. Madeleine McCann, from Leicestershire, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on Thursday.
Police have widened their search to an area of seven miles around the complex. About 50 volunteers have been helping to search the area for signs of the girl, including the white pyjamas she was wearing when she vanished.
They have received thousands of calls and have a sketch of a suspect but say they will not elaborate on the evidence "to safeguard the child's life". Police have a sketch of a suspect but will not elaborate on their evidence "to safeguard the child's life".
The search has been widened to an area of nine miles (15km) around the complex.
The toddler is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant and regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.The toddler is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant and regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.
'Hope''Hope'
Police have not reported any progress in their investigation since they said on Saturday they thought Madeleine had been abducted but was alive. BBC correspondent Robert Hall said he had been out with a volunteer search team - made up mainly of British expats and tourists - on Monday.
They were coming under increasing pressure to give more information, said BBC correspondent Jane Hill. Although they said they had not been well briefed by police, they did know one item they were looking for was a pair of with pyjamas with the Disney character Eeyore on the front, our correspondent said.
Local mayor Julio Barroso told BBC News 24 work was going on behind the scenes to try to find Madeleine. Dave Felton, an expat from Manchester who lives in the village, said: "People are still hoping that we don't actually find her and that she is safe and sound somewhere."
Around the marina in the nearby town of Lagos, maritime police have been searching amid claims that a man was seen with a small girl in the area.
In Portugal we say 'hope is the last thing to lose' Mayor Julio BarrosoIn Portugal we say 'hope is the last thing to lose' Mayor Julio Barroso
Marina worker Joao Riveiro said a number of officers had been searching and making inquiries.
"Police without uniforms moved around a lot about two days ago. They moved around and were asking questions."
Police, who have received thousands of calls, have not reported any progress in their investigation since saying on Saturday they thought Madeleine had been abducted but was alive.
They are coming under increasing pressure to give more information, but correspondent Robert Hall said it was not the style of the Portuguese police to provide constant updates to the media and public.
'Vague sketch'
Local mayor Julio Barroso told BBC News 24 work was going on behind the scenes to try to find Madeleine.
"Our judicial police are following all the signs, and they are working very hard for all these days and they have many many people involved," he said."Our judicial police are following all the signs, and they are working very hard for all these days and they have many many people involved," he said.
He said about 80 detectives were involved - some having come from the capital Lisbon - as well as local and maritime police, firefighters, volunteers and members of the Red Cross. He said about 130 people were working on the case, including 80 detectives, some of whom had come from the capital Lisbon. The team also involved local and maritime police, firefighters, volunteers and members of the Red Cross, he said.
When asked how he felt about what had happened he said: "In Portugal we say 'hope is the last thing to lose'."When asked how he felt about what had happened he said: "In Portugal we say 'hope is the last thing to lose'."
On Saturday officers were stopping cars on roads and searching abandoned homes and scrubland in the surrounding Algarve countryside.On Saturday officers were stopping cars on roads and searching abandoned homes and scrubland in the surrounding Algarve countryside.
Kate McCann prayed for her daughter's return Parents' appealKate McCann prayed for her daughter's return Parents' appeal
Airports across the country are on alert and police believe the toddler is still in Portugal.Airports across the country are on alert and police believe the toddler is still in Portugal.
They have been showing locals what one called "a vague sketch" of a suspect.They have been showing locals what one called "a vague sketch" of a suspect.
On Sunday Mr and Mrs McCann attended a Catholic church service to pray for their daughter's safe return. Later a group of 21 villagers met the McCanns in their apartment to say the Rosary together. It is believed the image shows only the rear view of a man.
Tourists and expatriates also attended an Anglican service at Praia da Luz, and prayers were said at the church in the family's home village of Rothley. On Sunday Mr and Mrs McCann attended a Catholic church service to pray for their daughter's safe return.
Speaking after the Mass, Mr McCann told reporters: "We continue to hope for the best possible outcome from this for us and for Madeleine." After the Mass a tearful Kate McCann 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.
A tearful Kate McCann 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. I just wanted to say thank you. Please continue to pray for Madeleine."
In pictures: Madeleine search In pictures: Madeleine search
"We couldn't have asked for more. I just wanted to say thank you. Please continue to pray for Madeleine."
Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time on Thursday.Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time on Thursday.
Mark Warner managing director David Hopkins said the McCanns had "done nothing that I'm sure many parents wouldn't have done". Mark Warner managing director David Hopkins said in having a meal nearby in what was a "very safe environment", the McCanns had "done nothing that I'm sure many parents wouldn't have done".
He told the BBC: "Whilst keeping a very close eye on their children who are not far away, [they] go out and enjoy a meal on a holiday in a very, very safe environment."
A spokesman for the company said two holiday bookings at the resort had been cancelled and six had asked to go to another site.A spokesman for the company said two holiday bookings at the resort had been cancelled and six had asked to go to another site.
In the first official briefing on the case on Saturday, Guilhermino Encarnacao, director of the judicial police in the Faro region, said officers were working on the assumption Madeleine was being held between 3km and 5km (about two to three miles) from the resort.In the first official briefing on the case on Saturday, Guilhermino Encarnacao, director of the judicial police in the Faro region, said officers were working on the assumption Madeleine was being held between 3km and 5km (about two to three miles) from the resort.