Kate and Gerry McCann say 10th Christmas without Madeleine McCann will be ‘tinged with pain’
In a message posted online, the couple said they hoped support from others would "keep us strong and afloat during the difficult months to come".
THE HEARTBROKEN parents of Madeleine McCann have said their tenth Christmas without her will be "inevitably tinged with pain and longing".
Writing on Facebook today, Kate and Gerry McCann said that they hoped support from others would "keep us strong and afloat during the difficult months to come".
May will mark a decade since the disappearance of Madeleine, then aged three, from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal.
Her parents, of Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed to "never give up" hope of finding their daughter.
In a statement posted to their website and the appeal's official Facebook page, the couple said: "This Christmas marks our 10th without Madeleine. There are no words really.
"Suffice to say, we will try and make it as happy a family occasion as possible despite being inevitably tinged with pain and longing.
"The year ahead too is one which we never could have believed or contemplated we would have to face."
The couple added: "Thank you so much to everyone who hasn't forgotten about Madeleine, for all of your help and continued prayers.
"The support we continue to have from so many people, friends and strangers will, we're sure, keep us strong and afloat during the difficult months to come.
"Somebody knows. We just hope they find the courage and compassion to let us know too."
In early December the Sun on Sunday revealed detectives were following an "important" new lead in the case.
A source said that the new line of inquiry "could provide an explanation on whether Madeleine was abducted and transported away".