Kate McCann (centre) in London yesterday with Sarah Godwin (left) and Nicki Durbin, all of whom testified before MPs about their missing children

The chances of missing Madeleine McCann being found are improving after Scotland Yard was called in to review the investigation, her mother said yesterday.

Kate McCann's daughter Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday flat in Portugal's Algarve shortly before her fourth birthday on May 3, 2007.

She said there was "currently no legislation to protect missing people and their families left behind".

The inquiry was shelved in 2008, although private detectives employed by the McCanns have continued the search. "I don't think this should be the role of grieving parents," she said.

Calling for a single point of contact between families of missing people and the police, Mrs McCann added: "To be left in the dark when your child is missing and at risk is unbearable."

Mrs McCann was giving evidence to MPs holding an inquiry into the support available for the families of missing people.

Mrs McCann was joined by Nicki Durbin, whose son, Luke (19) went missing following a night out in Ipswich five years ago and Sarah Godwin, whose son, Quentin, was 18 when he went missing in New Zealand while on his way to an after-school job in 1992.
Irish Independent