Kate and Gerry McCann marked a painful milestone in the hunt for their daughter Madeleine as a month passed since she was taken.

The couple have spent the last four weeks tirelessly searching for their little girl, crossing Europe to make appeals for help.

But the torment proved too much as Mrs McCann broke down in tears during an emotional church service in Praia da Luz, the Algarve town where Madeleine was abducted.

She cried after a young Portuguese girl kissed her when the congregation at the Igreja Nossa Senora da Luz were asked to exchange a sign of peace.

Clutching Madeleine's favourite toy Cuddle Cat and a copy of the best-selling children's book We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Mrs McCann struggled to compose herself.

She wore green and yellow ribbons in her hair and was supported by her husband throughout the hour-long service.

As they stepped up to take communion, Mr McCann put his arm around his wife and squeezed her shoulder.

The couple, both 38, are spending a second quiet day with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie but issued a statement to mark a calendar month since their eldest child was snatched from her bed. They said: "It is incredibly difficult not having Madeleine here.

"As every day, every week, becomes a month, we still believe she is out there and alive and we remain positive and determined that we will find her soon with everyone's help.

"We do realise it is just a phone call that we need. We just want her home."