Parents issue image of how Madeleine may look now

An image of how Madeleine McCann may look now, if still alive, was released by her parents today as they vowed to continue the worldwide search for their daughter.

Gerry and Kate McCann employed a forensic imaging artist to produce a photographic impression of how the missing youngster would have aged in the two years since she vanished from the family’s holiday apartment in Portugal.

It will be used on posters to be distributed globally and the couple believe it could prove “crucial” in finding out what happened to her.

In a statement issued tonight ahead of Sunday, the second anniversary of their daughter’s apparent abduction, the McCanns said: “It is two long years since Madeleine was taken. It is two years since we were a happy family of five.

“The pain and anxiety does not lessen, but our determination to find our beautiful daughter remains steadfast.

“We are no longer looking for a four-year-old little girl – but a six-year-old one. This is crucial.

“We are hoping that the new, age-progressed image of Madeleine aged six, produced by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in Washington, will help people to see what Madeleine may look like today.”

The Madeleine of those now familiar family photos was just three-years-old when she went missing in Praia da Luz on May 3 2007.

If still alive – and the McCanns believe there is a “very real likelihood” she is – she would now be five, nearly six, years old.

Unveiled on Oprah Winfrey’s chat show in the United States, the image depicts the child at six years of age.

With Madeleine’s birthday falling in less than two weeks time, the McCanns were keen that the picture’s presentation does not quickly become out-of-date.

The expert used photographs of Mr and Mrs McCann at around the same age to produce the “age progression image”.

The picture shows a smiling Madeleine, wearing a pink headband in her fair, shoulder-length hair.

The couple believe it is the most realistic depiction possible of how she might look today, said their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell.

It is published on the posters alongside an old photograph of Madeleine, for comparison, under the headings Have You Seen This Little Girl? and Don’t Give Up On Me.

The distinctive mark in her right eye is evident in both pictures – but the age difference is compelling.

Private detectives working for the McCanns and a hotline are now prepared to deal with responses generated by the posters.

The release of the image is part of a media campaign by the McCanns to capitalise on the media spotlight on the second anniversary.

On Thursday, a Channel 4 documentary will feature a reconstruction of what the couple describe as “potentially significant and suspicious events” from around the time Madeleine was taken.

In their statement, they added: “Much of this information has not been disclosed to the general public before and it is apparent that there are several highly important unanswered questions remaining."

The documentary will come after the broadcast – on Monday in the US and Tuesday in the UK – of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with the McCanns.