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Anxious wait over 'abducted' girl Anguish of missing girl's parents
(about 2 hours later)
Relatives of a three-year-old girl who is feared abducted on a family holiday are flying to the Algarve in Portugal as the search for her continues. The parents of a three-year-old girl feared abducted on a family holiday in Portugal have spoken of their anguish and despair at her disappearance.
Madeleine McCann's parents, from Leicestershire, were at a restaurant near the Mark Warner Ocean Summer Club in Praia da Luz when she went missing. Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire, also pleaded for anyone who may be holding their "beautiful" daughter to return her safely.
Kate and Gerry McCann, who were checking her regularly, found her bed empty at about 2200 GMT on Thursday. Madeleine went missing from an apartment bedroom while her parents were at a nearby restaurant.
The apartment has been cordoned off and a major search is under way. Mrs McCann found her bed empty at about 2200 GMT on Thursday.
Mr and Mrs McCann, who had been checking on their daughter regularly, were staying at the Mark Warner Ocean Summer Club in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz.
'Let her home'
On Friday Mr McCann, with his wife at his side, read out an emotional statement outside the holiday apartments.
Please, if you have Madeleine, let her come home to her mummy, daddy, brother and sister Gerry McCann "We cannot describe the anguish and despair we are feeling as parents of our beautiful daughter Madeleine," he said.
"We request that anyone with any information relating to Madeleine's disappearance, no matter how trivial, contact the Portuguese police and help us get her back safely."
He then addressed anyone who may be holding Madeleine, saying: "Please, if you have Madeleine, let her come home to her mummy, daddy, brother and sister."
Madeleine's parents, both 38-year-old doctors, had been dining in a tapas restaurant a few hundred yards from the apartment and had been checking on the little girl and her younger brother and sister, two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, every half hour.Madeleine's parents, both 38-year-old doctors, had been dining in a tapas restaurant a few hundred yards from the apartment and had been checking on the little girl and her younger brother and sister, two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, every half hour.
The door was lying open, the window in the bedroom and the shutters had been jemmied open Gerry McCann Aunt speaks of fearsThe door was lying open, the window in the bedroom and the shutters had been jemmied open Gerry McCann Aunt speaks of fears
Fellow holidaymakers, staff from the British travel firm Mark Warner - which has run the resort for two years - and police spent most of the night searching for the toddler. Mr McCann told the girl's aunt, Trish Cameron, from Dumbarton near Glasgow, that he had found the door open, with the bedroom window and shutters jemmied open.
But the manager of the resort, John Hill, said about 60 staff and guests at the complex had searched until 0430 GMT while police notified border police, Spanish police and airports. "Nothing had been touched in the apartment, no valuables taken, no passports," she said.
The apartment was sealed off for forensic checks, extra police teams were brought in from Lisbon and sniffer dogs were deployed.
The girl's aunt, Trish Cameron, who lives in Dumbarton near Glasgow, said Mr McCann rang her on Thursday night.
Remembering the conversation, she said her brother had told her: "Madeleine's been abducted, she's been abducted.
"The door was lying open, the window in the bedroom and the shutters had been jemmied open.
"Nothing had been touched in the apartment, no valuables taken, no passports.
"They think someone must have come in the window and gone out the door with her.""They think someone must have come in the window and gone out the door with her."
'Distressing time' Fellow holidaymakers, staff from the British travel firm Mark Warner - which has run the resort for two years - and police have been searching for the toddler.
Mrs Cameron was due to fly out to the resort from Manchester on Thursday night, along with her mother and Mrs McCann's parents. Police have notified border police, Spanish police and airports.
The apartment has been sealed off for forensic checks, extra police teams were brought in from Lisbon and sniffer dogs have been used.
'Worried sick'
Relatives including Mrs Cameron were due to fly out to the resort from Manchester on Thursday night.
Speaking from his home in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, Madeleine's maternal grandfather Brian Healey said they were "worried sick".Speaking from his home in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, Madeleine's maternal grandfather Brian Healey said they were "worried sick".
"It's a very distressing time," he said. Gerry McCann is a consultant cardiologist at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital.
The toddler's father is a consultant cardiologist at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital.
Doug Skehan, another consultant cardiologist there, said: "The mood in the hospital is one of great concern and we hope that Kate and Gerry will have their daughter back very soon."Doug Skehan, another consultant cardiologist there, said: "The mood in the hospital is one of great concern and we hope that Kate and Gerry will have their daughter back very soon."
Kate McCann is a GP at Latham House Medical Practice in Melton Mowbray, where colleagues said they would do everything to support the family.Kate McCann is a GP at Latham House Medical Practice in Melton Mowbray, where colleagues said they would do everything to support the family.
The McCanns live in Rothley in Leicestershire and are believed to have moved there from nearby Queninborough last summer.
The British Ambassador to Portugal, John Stephen Buck, was travelling to the Algarve on Friday, as was Mark Warner UK Operations Director Craig Mayhew and a counsellor.The British Ambassador to Portugal, John Stephen Buck, was travelling to the Algarve on Friday, as was Mark Warner UK Operations Director Craig Mayhew and a counsellor.
Ocean Club manager John Hill said the McCanns remained at the police station in Portimao helping officers piece together what happened.