Outside, the chill autumn night was filled with the sights and sounds of happy families celebrating Guy Fawkes night.

Inside the brightly lit parish church of St Mary and St John, Kate McCann silently sobbed as she relived a warm spring Portugal evening, exactly six months before, when Madeleine vanished.

The Rev Rob Gladstone, vicar of Rothley, stepped up to the pulpit and told the 200-strong congregation: "We gather together to encourage one another, and especially Gerry and Kate, in strength, hope, courage and faith."

Everyone prayed aloud for all abducted children.

"Comfort and liberate all those, especially young children, who have been taken away from their families against their will," the congregation intoned as one.

Gerry spoke his way firmly through the written response.

At 9.50 exactly, there was silence. Six months ago to the minute, Madeleine had gone.

Simultaneously, similar services were taking place in Kate's home city of Liverpool, the McCann family base in Glasgow and in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

At the end of the service in Rothley, the skies were dark and quiet.

Bonfire parties over, thousands of happy children were tucked up safely in their beds.

And Kate and Gerry McCann stepped through the church to the cold reality of a November night.