The father of Madeleine McCann has started a blog to record how her parents are campaigning to bring their daughter home three weeks after she was abducted in Portugal.

Gerry McCann, a consultant cardiologist, used his first entry to record the visit with his wife to the Catholic shrine at Fatima yesterday where the couple prayed for a miracle for the four-year-daughter.

“The actual visit was very encouraging with the rector and thousands of pilgrims praying for Madeleine as well Kate and I,” wrote Mr McCann, of Rothely, Leicestershire.

“We lit candles for Madeleine and also 3 for Madeleine’s grandparents. The trip received a lot of publicity which should help maintain the profile of her abduction.”

The blog, which appears on www.findmadeleine.com, also reveals that Mr and Mrs McCann are close to finalising plans for a tour of Europe, particularly to countries where reports about the disappearance tof daughter has been limited.

The campaign to find Madeleine has received donations of almost £300,000 while its website has received more than 125 million page impressions and 85,000 messages of support.

Times Recommends

• UN may halt 400-year-old 'freedom of the seas'
• Where the Rosetta belongs can’t be set in stone
• Gas deal on hold, but Ukraine may pay in the end