Find Madeleine, to which the Express group of newspapers agreed to donate £550,000 today, is believed to have raised more than £1.5million since it was set up by Kate and Gerry McCann on May 16 last year.

The fighting fund was launched at the Walkers Football stadium in Leicester, 13 days after their daughter disappeared and amid unprecedented media publicity.

One of the early promises of fund organisers was that any proceeds unspent in helping to track Madeleine down would be donated to help find other missing children. As well as being able to donate online to the fund and make comments of support on its website, those who logged on were also able to buy wristbands and t-shirts, see latest news of the hunt for their daughter and, in the coming months, view police pictures of the suspected abductor. The site was improved and relaunched last month.

Amid a wave of media stories by press camped in the tiny Algarve town of Praia da Luz in the days after Madeleine's disappearance, donations poured into the newly-launched fund: £73,505 was raised in its first three days.

In August, Gerry and Kate's campaign launched a new YouTube channel, linked to the site, entitled: 'Don't You Forget About Me,' in an attempt to keep public attention going and keep Madeleine's name in the headlines.

With little progress having been made in the investigation, however, questions gradually began to be asked about what the fund was being used for. In September, after being given 'arguido,' or 'suspect', status by Portuguese police, the couple confirmed that the money raised to help find their daughter would not be used to clear their names.

A month later, they were again forced onto the defensive when Clarence Mitchell, their spokesman, admitted that the fund had been used to fund two mortgage payments, adding: "The fund has always had the ability to assist the family financially if necessary." He added, however, that this had been stopped in September.

The exact usage of the funds appears vague, although the family insist it conforms to strict legal criteria. On its website, the McCanns describe the campaign as a "non-charitable not-for-profit company," which was set up to "help find Madeleine McCann and to support her family and bring her abductors to justice".

It is believed that at a significant sum, possibly as big as £700,000, has been used to pay for private detectives since it was launched on May 16, but this has not been confirmed. Just before Christmas, an advertising campaign was launched in Spain, Portugal and North Africa.

Ironically, despite the McCanns' anger at certain stories, today's legal judgment appears to have re-awakened interest in the Find Madeleine campaign, which - in light of the abduction and miraculous discovery of another girl, Shannon Matthews - had dropped off significantly.

As the Daily Express and Daily Star apologised on their front pages and in the High Court, the website's support page has once again been deluged with goodwill comments, and expressions of hope from members of the public that the four-year-old could still be found alive.

One comment, from a supporter calling herself Karen, wrote: "I am sure what has happened today will only go a very small way in helping your grief but I am delighted you got your apology you so deserved."

Another, from Monica B, said: "Just a short note to let you know that I'm still praying for you all and for Madeleine. I know that she will be returned to you and hopefully it will be soon."

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