The mother of missing toddler Madeleine McCann today called for a Europe-wide ‘quick response’ system to react to reports of child abductions, as she revealed she was “horrified” to learn the scale of the problem.

Kate McCann's appeal came as Belgian prosecutors confirmed that a DNA sample taken from a restaurant in the Flemish town of Tongeren, where a woman reported seeing Madeleine 11 days ago on July 28, was not linked to the missing child.

Mrs McCann said that abductions were more common than many parents realised. Britain's child protection measures, such as the sex offenders’ register and system of Criminal Record Bureau checks, should be enforced across the continent, she said.

She added that the United States - which her husband, Gerry, visited a few weeks ago - seemed far ahead in its ability to respond to child kidnappings.

Mrs McCann refused to discuss emerging details of the inquiry during the interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour but said she was now more hopeful that Madeleine was still alive than when her daughter disappeared 97 days ago from their holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz.

Mrs McCann, 38, and her husband are both expected to be reinterviewed by police after reports that blood had been found in their daughter’s bedroom. The suspected traces of blood were due to arrive in Britain today for tests at a UK forensic science laboratory.

Mrs McCann said this morning that the numerous false sightings of her daughter across Europe, like the one in Belgium, helped her to stay positive. She said: “We haven’t had any news to the contrary that Madeleine isn’t alive, and that’s very important.

“And there have been many cases of children that have been found much later than this, so again that’s reassuring. So the hope’s still there.”

Mrs McCann, who has remained in Portugal with her husband and their other two children since Madeleine’s disappearance, said she had been shocked to learn how many children are abducted each year.

Citing statistics from the Protect American’s Children organisation Mrs McCann said that that during 2002-03 there were 1,000 attempted child abuductions in England and Wales. She said 100 children were succesfully kidnapped by strangers.

“It’s really important that parents know these things and take extra care,” she said. “Systems need to be in place across Europe for a quick-response for children that have gone missing. All countries in Europe should have a sex offenders register and Criminal Bureau Checks in place.

“It is important that the general public are informed about the scale of the problem. I was horrified of things that I have learned about since this happened.”

Speaking about policies in the United States towards missing children she said: “They do seem to be a little bit, or quite a bit rather, ahead in reacting to situations like this.

In response to comments criticising the McCanns for having left their daughter in their holiday apartment while they ate at a nearby restaurant Mrs McCann said this mornings she had “come to terms” with the guilt she feels.

She added: “Certainly when I am in my calm and rational moments I know how much I love my children and I know how responsible I am and that is what I am hanging on to really.”

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