200 attend service marking Madeleine anniversary

THE parents of Madeleine McCann joined about 200 people at a prayer vigil on Saturday to mark the six-month anniversary of the youngster’s disappearance.

Gerry and Kate McCann, both 39, spent about an hour at a service in a church near their home in Rothley, Leicestershire. Vicar the Rev Rob Gladstone led special prayers at 9.30pm — the time Madeleine vanished on May 3 while on holiday with her parents in Portugal.

Other missing children, including British toddler Ben Needham, who went missing while on holiday in Greece in 1991, were also remembered at the service.

Madeleine’s parents arrived in a car driven by Mr McCann and held hands as they arrived and left the 700-year-old Church of St Mary & St John.

Mr and Ms McCann said nothing to watching journalists, but Madeleine’s great uncle, Brian Kennedy, told reporters: “It was a very uplifting service. Obviously, this is a very emotional time for them, but I think they are standing up very well.”

Family friend Val Armstrong added: “They are so resolute in this. The conviction they have is that she is still alive and we have to believe that.”

The McCanns’ younger children, Sean and Amelie, did not attend the service.

A spokesman for the couple said the youngsters were being cared for by a childminder.

He added that Mr and Ms McCann had visited the church earlier in the day with the two children to say a private prayer for Madeleine.

It is understood that Mr McCann plans to resume full-time work in January.

He returned to his job as a consultant cardiologist at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, last Thursday.

A family spokesman said he would work part-time until the new year.