McCanns still hope to bring Maddie home

The loft is filled with the presents I have bought for Madeleine and her wardrobe, too

THE parents of Madeleine McCann have vowed they will “never give up” the search for their daughter.

Kate and Gerry McCann have spent their 11th Christmas without Maddie, who disappeared aged three while on a family holiday in Portugal.

The family made the pledge in an emotional Christmas message on the Facebook page for the Official Find Madeleine Campaign.

Addressed to their supporters, it said: “We just wanted to pass on our love and thanks to everyone who has continued to support us throughout another year.

“Christmas is a tricky time ... as it is for many people. Friendship, solidarity and warm wishes go a long way in giving us the strength to get through and make the very best of it.

“So, from all our family ... a very big thank you. We will never give up on Madeleine. With very good wishes for a happy and peaceful 2018.”

Kate McCann revealed that she still kept her daughter’s room exactly the same, ready for her to come home. Writing for the UK’s Daily

Telegraph she revealed her family had a tradition of buy- ing a Christmas stocking for her children, including Madeleine, who would now be 14.

She said: “The presents I buy for her usually have to jump out at me.

“She would be a teenager now so I always try and pick something that would be suitable and enjoyable for her no matter what age she is when she gets to open them.

“In my head I guess I just want for everything to be right for her when she comes back home. The loft is filled with the presents I have bought for Madeleine and her wardrobe, too.”

But she conceded that her daughter might not like her bedroom being the same bright pink she had loved as a toddler.

She said she had felt “numb” after Maddie disappeared while the family was on holiday in Portugal.

Everything now was “tinged with pain” at Christmas without their daughter.

There have been more than 8000 potential sightings of the British youngster since her disappearance.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said there were “significant investigative avenues” that were of “great interest” to both the UK and Portuguese teams investigating.

Met cops believe she was stolen by child traffickers or sex fiends, or during a burglary gone wrong.