THOUSANDS of people around the world joined an East Lancashire group's online prayer day for Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine's mother Kate McCann is thought to be one of the 20,000 Christians who joined the Accrington and Burnley-based prayer circle in a day of remembrance for Madeleine and all missing children worldwide on Friday.

The prayer circle known as 'music download revolution' has been up and running for a year and members say they are becoming increasingly popular.

The core of the organisation is the Christian music download site, from which the group's campaign to raise awareness of child trafficking has attracted global attention.

John Wearne, who belongs to St Paul's Church in Accrington and co-runs the site, said: 'Eight jumbo jet loads of children disappear every single day for the purposes of sex trafficking and the church has a responsibility, a duty, to impact this evil.

"We still believe that Madeleine is out there and we believe in spiritual warfare and that prayers for her will help bring her home.

'I have also spoken to Madeleine's mother, Kate McCann, who is happy we are promoting this for her lost little angel. She confirmed to me that she would be joining in.'

John runs the site with Burnley man Robert Robinson, a singer-songwriter who promotes the site's music