The mother of Madeleine McCann has given a detailed description of what her daughter was wearing when she went missing, for an appeal on Crimewatch.

In the BBC One show, to be broadcast at 2100 BST, Kate McCann holds up a set of pink pyjamas identical to those the four-year-old had on at the time.

Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leics, then speaks in detail about a suspect seen on the night Madeleine vanished.

She went missing on May 3, while on a family holiday in the Algarve.

It is thought she was snatched from the family's resort apartment in Praia da Luz while her parents were at a nearby restaurant.

Suspect

In the Crimewatch appeal, Mrs McCann, 38, holds up a light pink top with capped sleeves and a picture on it of the cartoon character Eeyore, who is curled up with the words "Sleepy Eeyore" written underneath.

She also produces white cotton pyjama bottoms, covered with small flowers and carrying another Eeyore motif on the right leg.

The pyjamas belong to Madeleine's younger sister, two-year-old Amelie.

Mr McCann, also 38, then gives a detailed description of a suspect seen carrying what was thought to be a child on the night Madeleine disappeared.

He said the man was approximately 35 years old, around 5ft 8in or 5ft 9in tall and had dark hair which was parted at the side and slightly longer at the back.

He said the man had been wearing a dark jacket slightly longer than a suit, beige trousers and dark shoes.

Asked if he thought the man had taken Madeleine, he said: "Potentially this could have been someone who could have been picking up a child from a crèche or coming back from dinner.

"But we are certainly suspicious of the timing and that person needs to be eliminated from the investigation.

"The description has been out for 10 days and as far as we know, no-one of that description has come forward so that definitely gives it more weight."

Photographs

He also urged people to hand in any pictures taken around the time Madeleine vanished at Praia da Luz with strangers in the background.

He said more than 1,000 pictures had already been handed in.

Mrs McCann then gave an emotional appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

"Anyone who was in the area around that time, even a few weeks before who hasn't come forward, please do," she said.

"Anyone who has photographs, please upload them onto the (CEOPS) website.

"If by any chance somebody knows where Madeleine is, we would obviously urge them to come forward."

Private jet

The couple have been visiting a number of European countries in an effort to raise the profile of Madeleine's case.

Last week, the couple appealed for help on Spanish television.

On Tuesday the McCanns will fly to Berlin in the private jet of an anonymous donor.

Their twins, Sean and Amelie, are expected to stay in Portugal with an aunt and uncle.

The next day the couple are hoping to meet political figures and hold a press conference before travelling on to the Netherlands, where the family had earlier lived for a year.

There is also expected to be a trip to Morocco, a country which has been linked to the case because of a reported sighting of Madeleine there.