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New plea on Madeleine's birthday New plea on Madeleine's birthday
(about 1 hour later)
The parents of Madeleine McCann have marked her fourth birthday with a fresh appeal for help, nine days after she went missing from a resort in Portugal.The parents of Madeleine McCann have marked her fourth birthday with a fresh appeal for help, nine days after she went missing from a resort in Portugal.
In a statement, Gerry and Kate McCann asked people to "redouble their efforts" to help find their daughter.In a statement, Gerry and Kate McCann asked people to "redouble their efforts" to help find their daughter.
"On Madeleine's birthday, please keep looking, please keep praying, please help bring Madeleine home," they said. Chancellor Gordon Brown said every parent would be thinking of the McCann family and what they could do to help.
Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz on 3 May.Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz on 3 May.
The couple attended a prayer vigil on Friday night in the Algarve village, where about 300 villagers prayed for their daughter.
During the service local priest Father Jose Manuel Pacheco said: "We are here to say all our love, all our tenderness to Madeleine and also to all the children in the world."
Villagers applauded the McCanns at the end of the vigil.
Huge sums of money are being offered to anyone who gives information leading to Madeleine's safe return.
Map of resortMap of resort
The couple, who were wearing green - the Portuguese colour for hope - thanked the congregation for their support. A group of business people and celebrities, backed by the News of the World newspaper, have pledged a total of £1.5m in reward money.
Donors include Sir Richard Branson, Top Shop's Sir Philip Green and the paper itself, which has put up £250,000.
We have been moved by the enormous willingness of people to do all they can to help find Madeleine Gerry McCann City vigil for Madeleine Algarve locals defend policeWe have been moved by the enormous willingness of people to do all they can to help find Madeleine Gerry McCann City vigil for Madeleine Algarve locals defend police
On Saturday, in a statement read out by holiday firm rep Alex Woolfall, the McCanns said: "Today is our daughter Madeleine's fourth birthday. Their offer comes days after Scottish tycoon Stephen Winyard, owner of Stobo Castle in the Scottish Borders, offered a £1m reward.
"We would like to mark it by asking people to redouble their efforts to help find Madeleine. Mr Winyard said he would be "rejoicing with the rest of the nation" if the reward helped to secure Madeleine's safe return.
"We know that there is already a huge amount of effort and resource being put into the search for our daughter. On Saturday, in a statement read out by Alex Woolfall, a rep from holiday firm Mark Warner, the McCanns said: "Please keep looking, please keep praying, please help bring Madeleine home."
"We also know that offers of support are being made to us daily. They spoke of the "huge amount" of effort being put into the search, and said offers of support were being made daily.
"It is this that keeps us strong and gives us hope." "It is this that keeps us strong and gives us hope," they said.
'Galvanising' union'Galvanising' union
The girl's aunt, Philomena McCann, said the couple would be having a "family day" to celebrate Madeleine's birthday, and her life so far.The girl's aunt, Philomena McCann, said the couple would be having a "family day" to celebrate Madeleine's birthday, and her life so far.
Other family members would be gathering at the Glasgow home of Madeleine's uncle, John McCann, she said.Other family members would be gathering at the Glasgow home of Madeleine's uncle, John McCann, she said.
"We want to have a celebration just now and have another one when Madeleine comes home - the sooner that is the better.""We want to have a celebration just now and have another one when Madeleine comes home - the sooner that is the better."
David Beckham was the latest footballer to make an appeal Beckham's appealDavid Beckham was the latest footballer to make an appeal Beckham's appeal
She said the celebrations would be small and would help to "galvanise" the family's union.She said the celebrations would be small and would help to "galvanise" the family's union.
Meanwhile, huge sums of money are being offered to anyone who gives information leading to Madeleine's safe return. Meanwhile, players in Saturday's football match between Celtic and Aberdeen will wear yellow ribbons around their wrists to show their support.
A group of business people and celebrities, backed by the News of the World newspaper, have pledged a total of £1.5m in reward money. And two Portuguese players for Edinburgh side Heart of Midlothian - Jose Goncalves and Bruno Aguiar - made an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
Donors include Sir Richard Branson, Top Shop's Sir Philip Green and the paper itself, which has put up £250,000. Former England football captain David Beckham, who plays in Spain for Real Madrid, also made an appeal on Spanish TV urging her safe return.
Their offer comes days after Scottish tycoon Stephen Winyard, owner of Stobo Castle in the Scottish Borders, offered a £1m reward.
Mr Winyard said he would be "rejoicing with the rest of the nation" if the reward helped to secure Madeleine's safe return.
Players in Saturday's football match between Celtic and Aberdeen will wear yellow ribbons around their wrists to show their support.
Two Portuguese players for Edinburgh side Heart of Midlothian - Jose Goncalves and Bruno Aguiar - also made an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
And former England football captain David Beckham, who plays in Spain for Real Madrid, made a televised appeal in Spain urging her safe return.
There has been speculation that Madeleine could have been taken out of the country.There has been speculation that Madeleine could have been taken out of the country.
'Grateful''Grateful'
Cardiologist Mr McCann earlier said he and his wife, a GP, had seen at first-hand how strong the police's desire was to find Madeleine.Cardiologist Mr McCann earlier said he and his wife, a GP, had seen at first-hand how strong the police's desire was to find Madeleine.
He said: "We are doing absolutely everything to assist the police with their investigation and we will leave no stone unturned in the search for our daughter Madeleine." He said: "We will leave no stone unturned in the search for our daughter Madeleine."
The official ground search for Madeleine in the Algarve has ended, but police say they still have significant leads to follow up.The official ground search for Madeleine in the Algarve has ended, but police say they still have significant leads to follow up.
The focus is shifting from being a local search for Madeleine to an international child abduction inquiry.The focus is shifting from being a local search for Madeleine to an international child abduction inquiry.
Madeleine hunt in picturesMadeleine hunt in pictures
Media reports about leads have focused on CCTV footage from a petrol station on the night of Madeleine's disappearance.Media reports about leads have focused on CCTV footage from a petrol station on the night of Madeleine's disappearance.
It was thought to feature two men and a woman driving a car with a British number plate.It was thought to feature two men and a woman driving a car with a British number plate.
Police have declined to confirm or deny reports about any possible leads, citing Portuguese law.Police have declined to confirm or deny reports about any possible leads, citing Portuguese law.
The UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), which works to tackle child sex abuse, has launched a poster campaign appealing for information on Madeleine's disappearance.The UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), which works to tackle child sex abuse, has launched a poster campaign appealing for information on Madeleine's disappearance.
The international number for Crimestoppers is +44 1883 731 336. People with information about Madeleine can call anonymously.The international number for Crimestoppers is +44 1883 731 336. People with information about Madeleine can call anonymously.
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