Take a look at the timeline of events and the story background to Leicestershire toddler Madeleine McCann's disappearance on 03 May 2007.Four-year-old Madeleine McCann from Rothley in Leicestershire disappeared from an apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve on Thursday 03 May 2007. She is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. They regularly checked on her and their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie. At the very end of May, Madeleine's parents visited the Pope and received his blessing. Since the initial weeks of speculation, little in the way of hard and fast fact has emerged.
What follows is a month by month account of the main events from June 2007:
Timeline of Events:
June 2007
Gerry and Kate McCann make an appeal on Crimewatch for help to find their daughter.
0n 03 June - It is four weeks since Madeleine McCann went missing. Hostile questioning from a journalist provokes the McCanns to deny involvement in Madeleine's abduction.
On 13 June - It is announced that the tributes and toys left at the Rothley war memorial will be cleared away. The ribbon-strewn scene in the village is by now a familiar image in television news bulletins. On the same day many competing in the Rothley Road Race donate the money they raise to the Madeleine Appeal. Pupils at Madeleine's playschool make a film to raise awareness of child abduction.
On 22 June - It's the 50th day since the disappearance, This is marked in 50 cities.
June 2007
Gerry and Kate McCann make an appeal on Crimewatch for help to find their daughter.
0n 03 June - It is four weeks since Madeleine McCann went missing. Hostile questioning from a journalist provokes the McCanns to deny involvement in Madeleine's abduction.
On 13 June - It is announced that the tributes and toys left at the Rothley war memorial will be cleared away. The ribbon-strewn scene in the village is by now a familiar image in television news bulletins. On the same day many competing in the Rothley Road Race donate the money they raise to the Madeleine Appeal. Pupils at Madeleine's playschool make a film to raise awareness of child abduction.
On 22 June - It's the 50th day since the disappearance, This is marked in 50 cities.
July 2007
A woman who claimed to be collecting money for Madeleine but instead used it for drugs is jailed for three months. Author J. K. Rowling asks bookshops worldwide to display posters showing missing Madeleine. The Prime Minister is assured that everything is being done to find Madeleine. The tributes and ribbons placed around the war memorial in Rothley are all removed.
A woman who claimed to be collecting money for Madeleine but instead used it for drugs is jailed for three months. Author J. K. Rowling asks bookshops worldwide to display posters showing missing Madeleine. The Prime Minister is assured that everything is being done to find Madeleine. The tributes and ribbons placed around the war memorial in Rothley are all removed.
August 2007
The police in Portugal announce that they have found nothing in the house of Robert Murat, an official suspect. Tests are carried out on suspected traces of blood found in the McCann apartment.
On 10 August - Madeleine has been missing 100 days.
The police in Portugal announce that they have found nothing in the house of Robert Murat, an official suspect. Tests are carried out on suspected traces of blood found in the McCann apartment.
On 10 August - Madeleine has been missing 100 days.
The McCanns announce they are to sue a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. They say, "We are deeply hurt by the allegations."
September 2007
Kate McCann is officially declared a suspect. Family and friends rally round Kate. The grandmother of Madeleine declares this development 'absurd'.
On 09 September - Kate and Gerry McCann return to their home in Rothley amidst huge media interest. They say they are determined to clear their names. The villagers of Rothley again declare their support for the McCanns.The McCanns say that the money raised to help find Madeleine won't be used to clear their names.
On 19 September - Portuguese prosecutors say there is no new evidence to justify the questioning of the McCanns.
Kate McCann is officially declared a suspect. Family and friends rally round Kate. The grandmother of Madeleine declares this development 'absurd'.
On 09 September - Kate and Gerry McCann return to their home in Rothley amidst huge media interest. They say they are determined to clear their names. The villagers of Rothley again declare their support for the McCanns.The McCanns say that the money raised to help find Madeleine won't be used to clear their names.
On 19 September - Portuguese prosecutors say there is no new evidence to justify the questioning of the McCanns.
October 2007
The police chief investigating Madeleine's disappearance is taken off the case.
On 21 October - Gerry McCann says he welcomes the announcement that the friends, who were on holiday with them in Portugal, are to be interviewed again. Writing in his internet blog, Gerry says he wants them to be eliminated from the enquiry as soon as possible.He adds that he and his wife will continue to hope that one of the lines of investigation leads to Madeleine being found safe and well.
On 24 October - Kate and Gerry McCann indicate that they may take legal action over some media reports about the disappearance of the daughter. The couple give their first broadcast interview since being declared suspects in the case. They tell Spanish television that some of the coverage had been ludicrous and hurtful.
On 25 October - The parents of Madeleine McCann have released an artist's impression of the man they believe abducted their daughter. The sketch depicts a man of southern European or Mediterranean appearance walking with a child in his arms. It is drawn by an FBI-trained forensic artist using details from a friend of the McCanns, but the face is blank because the witness wasn't certain about some details. The fighting fund set up to help find Madeleine McCann was used by her parents to make two mortgage payments, their spokesman says. Clarence Mitchell says: "The fund has always had the ability to assist the family financially if necessary." He says Kate and Gerry McCann stopped using the fund in September when they were made formal suspects in the case.
The police chief investigating Madeleine's disappearance is taken off the case.
On 21 October - Gerry McCann says he welcomes the announcement that the friends, who were on holiday with them in Portugal, are to be interviewed again. Writing in his internet blog, Gerry says he wants them to be eliminated from the enquiry as soon as possible.He adds that he and his wife will continue to hope that one of the lines of investigation leads to Madeleine being found safe and well.
On 24 October - Kate and Gerry McCann indicate that they may take legal action over some media reports about the disappearance of the daughter. The couple give their first broadcast interview since being declared suspects in the case. They tell Spanish television that some of the coverage had been ludicrous and hurtful.
On 25 October - The parents of Madeleine McCann have released an artist's impression of the man they believe abducted their daughter. The sketch depicts a man of southern European or Mediterranean appearance walking with a child in his arms. It is drawn by an FBI-trained forensic artist using details from a friend of the McCanns, but the face is blank because the witness wasn't certain about some details. The fighting fund set up to help find Madeleine McCann was used by her parents to make two mortgage payments, their spokesman says. Clarence Mitchell says: "The fund has always had the ability to assist the family financially if necessary." He says Kate and Gerry McCann stopped using the fund in September when they were made formal suspects in the case.
November 2007
On 01 November - Gerry McCann goes back to work at Glenfield hospital, Leicester.
On 01 November - Gerry McCann goes back to work at Glenfield hospital, Leicester.
On 03 November - Six months since four-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared. The following evening families in Rothley are invited to attend a special church vigil.
Rothley's four churches come together to pray for Madeleine and other abducted, trafficked or exploited children. Kate and Gerry McCann spent almost an hour at the service in the church of St Mary and St John near their home.
Rothley's four churches come together to pray for Madeleine and other abducted, trafficked or exploited children. Kate and Gerry McCann spent almost an hour at the service in the church of St Mary and St John near their home.
In the six months since the disappearance the village of Rothley has found itself in the media glare - at times that's made life quite difficult for those who live and work there. Sam Spillane runs her business from the heart of the village. Percy Hartshorn chairs Rothley Parish Council - he explains how the village is managing to weather the storm and is hopeful for a positive end to what's been a challenging time...
On 29 November - Forensic experts from the UK and Portugal meet at Leicestershire Police headquarters to discuss DNA samples collected during the inquiry.
December 2007
On December 22 - Mr and Mrs McCann send a public message to Madeleine: "Our only Christmas wish is for you to be back with us again."
On December 22 - Mr and Mrs McCann send a public message to Madeleine: "Our only Christmas wish is for you to be back with us again."
January 2008
Early in the month there is much speculation that a film about Madeleine is going to be made. Gerry McCann plays down the story.
On 20 January - The McCanns release police sketches, based on a statement given by a British holidaymaker, of a man they believe may have abducted Madeleine.
Early in the month there is much speculation that a film about Madeleine is going to be made. Gerry McCann plays down the story.
On 20 January - The McCanns release police sketches, based on a statement given by a British holidaymaker, of a man they believe may have abducted Madeleine.
February 2008
On 23 February - Portuguese justice minister Alberto Costa says the police investigation into the young girl's disappearance is nearing its end.
On 23 February - Portuguese justice minister Alberto Costa says the police investigation into the young girl's disappearance is nearing its end.
March 2008
On 19 March - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers .... READ MORE ...
On 19 March - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers .... READ MORE ...