From BBC website
Toddler 'abducted' during holiday
Madeline disappeared while her parents were at a nearby restaurant
A search is being carried out for a three-year-old from Britain who may have been abducted while on holiday with her family in Portugal.
Madeline McCann's parents, from Leicestershire, were at a restaurant near the Mark Warner Ocean Summer Club, Praia da Luz when she went missing.
Kate and Gerry McCann returned at about 2145 GMT to find an empty bed and the apartment door and window wide open.
The apartment has been cordoned off and local people are helping with a search.
'Devoted family'
Gill Renwick, a friend of the family, said Mr and Mrs McCann had been having a meal in a tapas restaurant a few hundred yards from the apartment and had been checking on the toddler every half hour.
"She's obviously been taken as she couldn't have gone out on her own and the shutters had been forced open.
The McCann family had been holidaying with a larger group
"They're a devoted family and love their children to bits. They live for their children."
But Ms Renwick said the family, from Rothley, had felt let down by police in Portugal.
"I spoke to them [McCann family] this morning and they said the police had done nothing overnight and they felt as if they'd been left on their own.
"They just don't know where to turn."
But the manager of the Mark Warner resort in Portugal, John Hill, said about 60 staff and guests at the complex had searched until 0430 GMT while police notified border police, Spanish police and airports.
'Sensitive case'
"As you can imagine Madeline's parents are distraught and not doing very well at all," he said.
"It's still questionable as to whether it's abduction," he said. "We are hoping that Madeline is found as soon as possible and safe and well."
A spokeswoman from the Portuguese police said they were being careful with the information being released.
"It is a sensitive case, it involves a child and we cannot give more information for now."
The British Embassy confirmed it had been informed about the toddler's disappearance.
The family was on holiday with a group of nine adults and eight children.
Ms Renwick added the toddler would be easy to spot as she was very pretty and blonde.
"People in the local area should look out to see if there's anything unusual, did they hear anything, any strange noises?
"She's very pretty and very blonde so wouldn't be a likely child to be with a Portuguese family or holidaymakers."
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