Madeleine McCann: Parents speak of continuing heartbreak as eighth anniversary approaches

Kate and Gerry McCann said the time around when she disappeared 'cuts deep'

Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 (Photo by Handout/Getty Images)

The parents of Madeleine McCann have spoken of their continuing grief as the eighth anniversary of her disappearance approaches.

Kate and Gerry McCann were on holiday with their daughter and her two younger siblings in Portugal when the three-year-old went missing on 3 May 2007.

It has since become one of the most famous missing person’s cases in the world after numerous police investigations spanning several years failed to find a culprit.

In a statement released today, Madeleine’s parents said: “Whilst most days, weeks and months are fairly similar – Madeleine is missed every day – this time of year cuts deep as it's a harsh reminder of time having passed and precious years with Madeleine lost.

Kate McCann and her husband Gerry said every day is a reminder of their daughter's absence (Getty Images)

“Without a shadow of doubt, the love, support, help and prayers that we continue to receive from so many people, in spite of the years which have gone by, encourages us, maintains our hope and lifts our spirits.”

Mr and Mrs McCann thanked the Metropolitan Police for their “unwavering commitment” and progress in their continuing investigation, as well as forces in Portugal.

Mrs McCann is cycling 500 miles from Edinburgh to London next month to raise £10,000 for the Missing People charity, as well as promoting the UK’s Child Rescue Alert (CRA) system.

British girl Madeleine McCann was allegedy abducted in 2007 from an Algarve resort apartment (Getty Images)

She said she was “more driven than ever” to continue the search for her daughter and to help other families facing the pain of a missing child.

The couple won a libel payout from a Portugese police officer last week who made a book and documentary suggesting they were involved in Madeleine's disappearance in Praia da Luz.

Detective Goncalo Amaral was ordered to pay Mr and Mrs McCann €250,000 (£179,000) each in damages by a Lisbon court, which banned further sales of his book, The Truth Of The Lie.

British police searching scrubland in the search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal last year

Following the ruling, the McCanns said the case was “never about money” but sought to mitigate the effect the claims had on their other children and the investigation.

British police officers spent eight days searching three areas of Praia da Luz close to where Madeleine disappeared in June but found no new evidence.

Additional reporting by PA