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More Maddy 'sightings' as world marks 50th day of abduction
TWO more witnesses came forward yesterday to report seeing missing Madeleine McCann in Malta as the 50th day of her abduction was marked around the world.
Maltese authorities revealed they had received details of 11 separate possible sightings of the four-year-old, dating back as far as May 27, but so far their investigations had come to nothing.
The reports differ on where the young girl was seen and who was with her, some witnesses saying she was with a man and others with a woman.
Maltese police said a full-scale investigation was under way and officers had been stationed at ports to check people leaving the country.
Yesterday police received two reports of sighting including one from Ray Roberts, from Anglesey, North Wales. He said he saw a girl in the north-eastern town of Sliema wearing what he said was a jet black wig being told: "Get up little girl" by an Arab-looking man.
Madeleine was snatched from her bed in her parents' holiday flat in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3.
Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire, said they were still waiting for the "vital breakthrough" in the search for their daughter as they released 50 green and yellow balloons, each with a photograph of the missing girl, in Praia da Luz.
The scene was repeated at nearly 300 locations across Britain and around the world including Argentina, the United States, Singapore, Australia and Afghanistan.
At Water Street Community Primary School, Skipton, pupils released 50 yellow balloons.
Madeleine's 12-year-old second cousin Katie Wright summed up the sense of global goodwill with a moving prayer ahead of the launch at the school, where her brother Patrick is a pupil.
She told the parents, pupils and staff: "Where there is good in the world, let this good unite. Where there is strength, let us be as giants in the face of darkness. Where there is hope, let our hearts long for Madeleine's return."
Kate McCann's cousin Anne-Marie Wright, 43, from Skipton, who keeps in daily touch with the McCanns, said the couple were kept "buoyed up" by events like the balloon launch in Skipton.
She added: "It helps them to know there's lots of support and there are things that can be done locally to keep Madeleine in the public eye. People here have been wonderful."
Mrs Wright, who has been to Portugal twice to support the McCanns, said: "The main thing is to keep the awareness going. If people are travelling, please take the posters. None of us have given up hope."
Madeleine's 73-year-old great aunt Sheilah Cowell watched in Skipton as children's balloons filled the sky.
Headteacher Jean McCrickard said: "This is a tragic situation for all concerned and every parent's worst nightmare.
"We hope that this venture today brings some hope and comfort to Madeleine's family and we will continue to keep them all in our prayers."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
