Kate McCann met the parents of other missing children yesterday and told them: “We all share the same pain.”

The mum of Madeleine McCann met the parents as she helped launch a nationwide system to help find missing children.

She said: “It’s good to be here today and meet other families who are in similar situations.

“It’s nice to get some stories of hope and to get their support and to be able to give a bit of support as well

“Today gives hope and solidarity to parents of missing children and it’s good to know that we are not alone.”

She also met Sarah Taylor who was reunited with her daughter Nadia, six, earlier this year. She was abducted by her dad and taken to Libya for nearly three years.

The event, which also marked International Missing Children’s Day, launched the Child Rescue Alert system across Britain. This allows police to trigger an instant media alert when children go missing.

Kate and husband Gerry have been looking for Madeline since she went missing on holiday in 2007.