THE parents of Madeleine McCann have attended a church service to mark the first anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance.

Kate begged those present to “pray like mad” for her lost daughter in an impromptu message.

“Please stay with us, stay with Madeleine and keep praying. Pray like mad,” said Kate McCann in a barely audible voice, drawing applause from the congregation.

Kate and Gerry McCann held hands as they walked to the Anglican parish church of St Mary and St John this afternoon alongside other residents of Rothley, their home village in Leicestershire.

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The group, led by Rob Gladstone, the parish priest, said prayers for the four-year-old and other missing children.

Madeleine has not been seen since she was left sleeping alone with her younger siblings, twins Sean and Amelie, in an apartment at the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz, while her parents dined at a tapas restaurant with friends.

On the same day as the service, Portugal’s most senior detective said officers had not decided whether the parents’ “arguido” status as official suspects should be lifted.

The couple left the country after police said they were suspects in Madeleine’s death.

Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Policia Judiciaria (PJ), Portugal’s CID, said officials had not decided whether to bring charges or drop the investigation.

He said: “At this stage nothing has been determined regarding possible charges or closing the case.

“The PJ continues to gather and analyse all available evidence.”

Banners showing newspaper cuttings and a mannequin of Madeleine McCann were set up next to the village church of Our Lady of Light in Praia da Luz.

Some of her family have travelled to Portugal for a service at the church that will also mark her disappearance.

The adult-sized mannequin has a blonde wig and its right eye is painted with the same distinctive mark as Madeleine.

The poster read: “It is very important to remember that you cannot exist as an adult without having been a child.

“Return Madeleine please.”

Maria dos Santos, a Lisbon-based artist, said she put up the tribute to express the hope that Madeleine would return.

Meanwhile, John Sentamu, Archbishop of York has written a special prayer for the girl and urged people across Britain to pray for her return.

It includes the lines: “Keep her safe and take away her fear and anxiety. We pray that she may be reunited with those who love her.”

Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCann family, said neither Gerry nor Kate would be speaking in public on the anniversary. He said: “This is an entirely private church visit for them.”

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