Image of how Madeleine may look now

Published: Friday, 1 May 2009, 7:49AM

The parents of Madeleine McCann have released an image of how their little girl may look today.

The then three-year-old, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal two years ago on Sunday, would now be almost six years old.

Gerry and Kate McCann employed a forensic imaging artist from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to create a photographic impression of how Madeleine may look at that age.

The "age progression image" was unveiled on Oprah Winfrey's US TV chat show on Friday afternoon.

Without evidence to the contrary, the McCanns, from Rothley in Leicestershire, still believe there is "a very real likelihood" Madeleine is alive and well.

The age progression image will be used on posters for a fresh drive to find their daughter.

In the one-hour interview on the US chat show, Oprah asked them: "Do you let yourself go to the worst?"

Mrs McCann replied: "I think it's natural. I know people mean well when they say don't let yourself go there, but as a mum, inevitably there are times when I do. And they're the times that I kind of dip down."

When asked about their marriage, Mr McCann said: "Child abduction, I think, could destroy any family. There's no doubt about it.

"It's one of the most devastating things. But we've been supported tremendously well and I think that's helped us stay strong and stay together.

"Obviously, we're really united in our goal and our love of Madeleine and Sean and Amelie."

Mrs McCann said she keeps Madeleine's room ready for her return and said she goes in there about twice a day.

"Do you talk to her?" asked Oprah.

Mrs McCann replied: "Just [to] say hello, really. Just [to] tell her we're still going to do everything we can to find her."

Last year, on the first anniversary, they launched an appeal urging anyone who spoke to police about the missing child to contact their own hotline.

The couple were buoyed by news earlier this week that EU funding had been set aside for the Europe-wide alert system for missing children, which they had campaigned for.

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