A close friend of Kate and Gerry McCann, she saw a young blonde girl wearing “distinguishable” pyjamas and wrapped in a blanket.

Described as the “principal witness” in the case by police sources, the woman has now returned to the UK and is brooding over what she saw.

Strange day after all the activity during the week. Kate and I started off with an early morning run to the the top of the nearby cliffs. Sean and Amelie were back in kids club and went swimming again. The rest of us attended mass which was very emotional as a priest from RAF Lossiemouth was visiting and further prayers were said for Madeleine. Father Zee-Manuel has also rigged up a powerpoint display projecting a large photograph of Madeleine on to the wall, which …

Gerry McCann compared eating in the tapas bar at the Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz as like “having dinner in your garden”.

But he said: “I think it’s fair to say that the guilt that we feel having not been there at that moment, irrespective of whether we had been in the next bedroom or not, will never leave us.”

Yesterday was relatively quiet although we did meet the British ambassador and the senior British Police Officer who has been working here in Portugal on the case. This was a productive meeting. There was a flurry of activity amongst the media here stating the family was openly critical of the Portuguese policed which was not true. We did our best to dampen this down but a couple of papers carried stories with our ‘frustration’ with the investigation rather than what we said …

No Update for 25 May 2007

THE campaign to find Madeleine McCann was gathering new momentum yesterday with a host of celebrities wearing her symbolic yellow ribbon.

Heading the star cast was footballer David Beckham, as he posed for pictures with leading actress Helen Mirren at the Greatest Britons 2007 awards in London.

Today Kate and I went to the Shrine at Fatima to pray for Madeleine´s safe return. It was another early start leaving at 6.30am. MarkWarner, who have looked after us so well, laid on a car and driver. We managed to continue the campaign with telephone conversations and e-mails. The actual visit was very encouraging with the rector and thousands of pilgrims praying for Madeleine as well Kate and I. We lit candles for Madeleine and also 3 for Madeleine’s grandparents. The trip …

The father of missing Madeleine McCann has issued a direct plea for suspects in the case to be treated as innocent unless proven guilty.

Gerry McCann said Madeleine’s family wanted anyone under suspicion to be treated “the way we would hope to be treated”.

Mr Clifford said last night that he had spoken to Mr Murat and his mother Jenny, and offered them free advice about handling the media.

He said he had “a tremendous amount of sympathy” for Mr Murat but would not formally represent him until he is cleared by Portuguese police.

THE parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann vowed today to “travel wherever is necessary” in their quest to get their daughter back.

Gerry McCann, who returned to his wife, Kate, in Portugal today after a series of meetings in Britain, said they were prepared to cross Europe in their search for their daughter.