The mother of Madeleine McCann made a fresh appeal for information about her daughter today, on the six-month anniversary of the four-year-old's disappearance.
Almost two months after returning to their home town of Rothley, Leicestershire, and in the same week that Gerry McCann has gone back to his job as a consultant cardiologist, the family show no signs of giving up the search for Madeleine.
Over the past six months, a number of theories have been put forward as to what happened on the night of Madeleine's disappearance, some of which have targeted Kate and Gerry McCann themselves as suspects. However, the McCanns maintain that their daughter was abducted and recently released an artist's impression of the man who they think took Madeleine, the four-year-old whose face has become known all over the world.
Just this week, Spanish private detectives hired by the McCanns have investigated a sighting in Morocco of a blonde girl with the same distinctive mark in one eye as Madeleine.
In a statement, Kate McCann said that she was sure her daughter was still alive and remained hopeful about her safe return.
She said: "Six months is such a long time for a little girl to be separated from her family.
"We believe that our Madeleine is out there somewhere and retain hope that we can be reunited.
"Madeleine is a beautiful little person who deserves a loving and happy life. To ensure this, there is no doubt that the best place for her to to be is with her family. We know somebody somewhere can make this happen."
A new photograph of their daughter wasl also made public for the first time. It shows the youngster on Saturday April 21st this year, exactly one week before she left for her family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, and 12 days before she disappeared from the family apartment on May 3rd.
The McCanns will mark the six-month anniversary this evening by taking part in an ecumenical prayer service at the Church of St Mary and St John in Rothley. Special prayers will be said for Madeleine and other missing children between 9.30pm and 9.45pm - six months to the minute since her apparent abduction.
PA