The heartbroken couple held hands as they walked alongside members of their community to the Anglican Parish Church of St Mary and St John, near their home in Rothley, Leicestershire.

Led by the Rev Rob Gladstone, prayers were said for the four-year-old and other missing children.

Meanwhile, in Praia da Luz banners featuring newspaper cuttings and a mannequin of Madeleine McCann were set up next to the church yesterday.

The tribute appeared ahead of a service at which relatives of the young girl marked the first anniversary of her disappearance.

The adult-sized mannequin had a blonde wig and its right eye was painted with the same distinctive mark as Madeleine.

It was dressed in a white and blue tracksuit and wore a sun hat similar to the one worn by the child in some of the most famous pictures of her on holiday in Portugal before her disappearance.

An explanation in Portuguese stated that the mannequin was a representation of Madeleine — although it looked more like her mother Kate.

The poster read: "It is very important to remember that you cannot exist as an adult without having been a child.

"Return Madeleine please."

The banners were plastered with articles from Portuguese newspapers and magazines that were favourable to the McCanns.

The banners were signed by a Brazilian woman called Josefa Maria dos Santos.

Asked why she wanted to put up the tribute, she said: "All children are special. All the world is interested in this case. Everybody wants her to come back, everybody is hoping."

She explained that a picture showing an angel with Jesus' face holding a human heart was intended to represent love and hope.

l Maddie of the US, page 30