Fresh Madeleine adverts launched in Spain

An advertising campaign was launched across southern Spain today to help find Madeleine McCann.

The adverts, in railway stations and public transport areas, are the first wave of an €112,000 publicity drive aimed at the Iberian peninsula and northern Africa, thought to be the area in which the missing four-year-old would most likely be found.

They have been paid for by donations made to a fighting fund set up earlier this year to financially support the search.

Newspaper adverts and some television broadcasts are also being prepared as part of efforts to keep the Leicestershire youngster, missing since May 3, in the public eye.

The fund’s directors have also agreed to contribute up to €70,000 a month to the operational costs of Metodo 3, the Barcelona-based private investigation agency hired by her parents, Kate and Gerry, to follow up potential leads.

Esther McVey, spokeswoman and director of Madeleine’s Fund (Leaving No Stone Unturned), said: “This is the Fund doing exactly what it was established to do, spending the money so generously donated by people around the world to find Madeleine.

“This sort of work on both fronts – maintaining awareness of Madeleine and physically working to find her and her abductor or abductors – is exactly what the Fund exists to support.

“Our latest wave of advertising, for instance, is appearing in Spain after a period of intensive preparation, creative thought and of ensuring that we are getting the best value for people’s money.

“The aim is simple: to remind people that Madeleine is still out there to be found and to generate vital new calls to our confidential, anonymous phone line.

“So far, the response has been fantastic, but we still need people to call 00 34 902 300 213 or email investigationfindmadeleine.com if they have any information they feel is in any way relevant.”