Madeleine's mother returns to scene of abduction

Kate McCann today said she felt closer to her missing daughter Madeleine as she returned to Praia da Luz for the first time since she was named as a prime suspect by police investigating her little girl’s disappearance.

Mrs McCann, who was cleared of any suspicion last year, travelled back to the Portuguese town with her husband Gerry after a court case they were planning to attend in the capital Lisbon yesterday was unexpectedly delayed.

Writing on the official Find Madeleine website, Mrs McCann said she had longed to return for two years for “personal and emotional reasons”, but added: “Our pain feels much rawer here.”

An update on the website today read: “We travelled to Praia da Luz yesterday afternoon. I have longed to come back here for two years for personal and emotional reasons.

“Early this morning we went to the lovely little church of Nossa Senhora da Luz. It was so quiet and peaceful – a real sanctuary.

“Although our pain feels much rawer here, it is comforting at the same time since we feel closer to Madeleine.

“We then walked down to the rocks on the beach, with its crashing waves and sense of vastness and freedom – another place where I’ve always felt able to reach out to Madeleine and find a little solace.

“For the rest of today we are planning to catch up with some very good friends.”