Birthday party for Madeleine postponed

A party planned to mark the fourth birthday of missing youngster Madeleine McCann has been postponed until her safe return, her uncle said today.

John McCann, 48, said they were now hoping to have an even bigger party for her when she is found.

Madeleine was snatched from her bed in the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve, Portugal, nine days ago.

Today her parents Gerry and Kate McCann urged people to mark her birthday today by redoubling their efforts to find their daughter.

Family members in Scotland had been planning to have a small party at the home of Gerry’s brother John McCann, in Glasgow.

But Mr McCann, said that would not now take place until his niece was able to join in the celebrations.

He said: “There was no point in having a birthday party without Madeleine, but the party has only been postponed, not cancelled.

“We are going to have it when she comes back and then it will be a massive party.”

Family members in Scotland have been constantly appealing for anyone with any information on the youngster’s whereabouts to come forward.

Today leaflets with Madeleine’s photo on them were given out to the crowd at the Celtic v Aberdeen football match in Glasgow.

Mr McCann explained they were hoping to jog the memory of any football fans who may have visited Portugal recently, or would encourage those heading out there soon to look out for her.

Mr McCann also said they have had approximately 200 T shirts made up with his niece’s picture on them, that women taking part in the Asset Management Women’s 10K race in Glasgow tomorrow would wear.

He also urged the thousands of women taking part in the run to tie a yellow ribbon round their wrist.

He said: “We’re doing everything we can to help find Madeleine.

“We are hoping whoever has done this will see we are serious about finding her.

“We have our moments of anguish and despair, but most to the time we are cheerful because there is so much going on and we know all it takes is for one person to come forward with the right information.”