Madeleine McCann's parents faced fresh heartache yesterday over a book claiming their daughter was NOT abducted.

The book, by retired lawyer Anthony Bennett, comes as Kate and Gerry prepare to launch a second Christmas appeal for help in finding Madeleine.

It sets out 60 reasons against the belief that she was a kidnap victim.

Mr Bennett, 61, of Harlow, Essex, has sold hundreds of copies of the£3 paperback on the internet. He said: "Readers will find things not published in any newspaper. I can prove it all."

Lawyers for the couple, whose daughter vanished in Portugal 19 months ago, said: "We are watching Mr Bennett's activities very closely."