McCanns will remain in Portugal

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Kate and Gerry McCann plan to stay in Portugal at least until the end of the summer, a family spokesman has said.

The couple do not want to leave the last place where their daughter Madeleine was seen before she was abducted on 3 May.

"This is the place where mentally they make a connection. They can't go from here," the spokesman added.

He said the McCanns could not yet contemplate going back to the family home in Rothley, Leicestershire.

"They don't put a specific timescale on it but they are prepared to live here until the end of the summer at the very earliest," he went on.

"As far as they are concerned this is where Madeleine still is."

The McCanns are expected to move out of their Mark Warner holiday apartment next week and enter more permanent housing.

They have recently been on a two-day trip around Europe to raise awareness of Madeleine's disappearance.

It is thought Madeleine was snatched from the family's apartment at the Praia da Luz resort while her parents were at a nearby restaurant.