KATE and Gerry McCann’s grief lifted for a moment last night as they were overwhelmed by a crowd of wellwishers following a mass on the fourth birthday of their missing daughter Madeleine.

With the church of Our Lady of Light too small for all those who wished to attend, people stood quietly in the paved square. As the service ended, the crowd cleared a path for the McCanns and four local girls released balloons.

There was laughter from children as the balloons drifted to the ground and Madeleine’s parents broke into warm smiles as the girls gathered them up and threw them into the air again.

Holding hands and smiling for the first time in public since the disappearance of their daughter, Gerry McCann told villagers he and his wife had drawn “strength, hope and courage” from friends.

Earlier in the church, speaking with emotion but determination, he said: “Today we should be celebrating the fourth birthday of our daughter Madeleine. Instead we have had to remember what a normal, beautiful, vivacious, funny, courageous and loving little girl that we are missing today.”

He described the effects of the abduction 10 days ago as “a tidal wave”, saying the devastation “was greatest for Kate and I” but also reached across the world. Their spirits had been lifted by vigils held for their daughter, with friends and family releasing 40 pink balloons near their Leicestershire home, each bearing a plea for her return.

It was confirmed yesterday British police have compiled a detailed photofit of a suspect seen near the McCanns’ apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, the day Madeleine was abducted. The man, wearing light trousers and a blue top, had a partly shaven head and was spotted a few hours before Madeleine disappeared.

Details of the photofit emerged as the reward for Madeleine’s safe return rose to £2.5m. It includes £250,000 offered by the News of the World and pledges from JK Rowling, Sir Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green.

A poster campaign was also launched by friends highlighting her distinctive right eye, where the pupil runs into the blue-green iris.

As he and Kate left the service in Praia da Luz, Gerry said the family remained certain they would see Madeleine again. “We walked out of this church believing that we will see Madeleine soon and she will be safe and well and we will continue to hope.”

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