Madeline McCann's Mum: She's Not A Million Miles From Algarve

15 February 2016, 06:13 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Kate McCann has said she believes her daughter's kidnapper did not take her ``a million miles'' from the Algarve.

Madeleine McCann was just three when she disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007.

Mrs McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, vowed she and her husband Gerry would ``never give up'' hope of finding their daughter.

The 47 year old, who is an ambassador for charity Missing People, said her research had led her to believe abducted children were not usually taken far from the scene.

She told the Sun: ``That's where she last was and I don't think she's been taken a million miles from there. I've always said Praia da Luz is the place where I feel closest to her.''

``The urge to look for Madeleine absolutely hasn't changed at all. You hear all the time about people who have been missing for years being found. There have been so many cases like that.

``We will never give up. You couldn't settle if you thought about giving up. I want an end, an answer. Whatever that it is.''

Mrs McCann added that Child Rescue Alerts, a scheme of early warning messages she helped launch, could have ``mobilised'' people at the time of Madeleine's disappearance.

Since 2011, the Met have been assisting in the search for clues as to what happened to the youngster with officers visiting the holiday resort in 2014.

The couple had previously praised the ``meticulous and painstaking work'' of detectives, and have again offered thanks to the police.

But last year the number of officers working on the case was reduced.

The Home Office said in June that the investigation had cost #10 million, with a further #2 million budgeted for the year ahead.