Cristiano Ronaldo in missing Madeleine appeal

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo today made his own personal appeal for help in tracing missing three-year-old Madeleine McCann.

The Manchester United player made the appeal in English and Portuguese as the hunt for the toddler goes on in the Algarve.

He said on Sky News: "I was very upset to hear of the abduction of Madeleine McCann and I appeal to anyone with information to come forward, please come forward."

It is hoped the appeal by Ronaldo, who plays for the Portuguese national team and is a huge star in his own country, will boost the search.

But it is unclear how widely the 22-year-old's message will be broadcast in Portugal, where legal restrictions are already limiting what can be reported about the investigation.

Meanwhile, friends of missing Madeleine and her family took part in vigils today in an emotional show of support.

This afternoon, hundreds of colleagues of parents Gerry and Kate joined in prayer at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital, where the three-year-old's father works as a consultant cardiologist.

Then this evening, residents of the little girl's home village of Rothley, in Leicestershire, gathered by its war memorial for a silent vigil.

Yellow ribbons symbolising hope were tied to railings circling the monument, alongside messages from well-wishers. One read: "Come home soon, Madeleine."

Speaking at the village square vigil, the toddler's great uncle, retired headteacher Brian Kennedy, paid tribute to her, saying: "Madeleine is a lovely little girl, intelligent, bright, devoted to her twin brother and sister.

"They regard her as a big sister and they idolise her.

"She's a very happy child, very loving. She attends a very nice nursery, not far from where she's hoping to start school in September.

"I spoke to both Gerry and Kate today. They were quite controlled. It's bad enough for us here but I can't even imagine what it's like for them in Portugal."

Mr Kennedy said he was finding it harder as the days passed to stay hopeful of seeing his great niece again.

"Five days is a great deal of time and tomorrow is six," he said. "The longer it goes on the more difficult it gets. I still have hope. You have to."

Valerie Armstrong, landlady of the Royal Oak public house, in Rothley, organised the vigil.

She said: "The feeling I was getting from everybody who spoke to me was that they all felt there was nothing they could do to make the situation better.

"They wanted to do something but they were so far away. What can we do but show the family that the village really does care and is behind them 100 per cent?"

Members of the local Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, which is attended by the McCanns, spoke of their despair.

Churchgoer Michelle Camilleri said: "It's terrible, it's devastating, but we are all united in prayer for them."

Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal has "hit staff very hard" at the hospital and GPs' surgery where Gerry and Kate McCann are popular employees, said bosses earlier today.

Around 300 met at the entrance of Glenfield Hospital to show their support this afternoon.

Many visibly upset, the well-wishers bowed their heads as hospital chaplain Maggie Sharpe led prayers, saying: "Kate and Gerry have dedicated their lives to caring and bringing healing to people and now it's our turn to show them our love and support.

"We pray whoever has taken Maddy that they have a change of heart and return her back safely to her family."

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust chairman Martin Hindle said Mr McCann had been "moved and encouraged" when told yesterday of the vigil.

"We, their friends and colleagues, cannot separate ourselves from their pain and their anguish," he said.

Other employees who attended the ceremony spoke of their deep sense of shock at their colleagues' traumatic ordeal.

Doug Skehan, a consultant cardiologist at the hospital, said: "The hospital here and indeed the medical practice where Kate works are deeply affected by the circumstances in Portugal and this is an expression of our concern."

Helen Mather, general manager of Glenfield Hospital's cardio-respiratory unit, said: "They were really looking forward to this holiday. It had a good reputation as a family resort and they were really, really looking forward to it.

"It's hit people here very hard, at all levels of the organisation."

Dr John Harvey, who works with Mrs McCann at Latham House Medical Practice in Melton, said: "I think it's affected everybody at the practice very badly."

A bouquet of ribbons was tied to a post outside the hospital, in Groby Road, beneath a picture of three-year-old Madeleine.

Copyright Press Association 2007.

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