PRAYERS: Rev Joey Naika

HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend a multi-denominational church service in the Capital on Sunday in support of the Madeleine McCann appeal.

Those attending will be asked to pray for the safe return of the four-year-old and invited to make donations to the Find Madeleine appeal established by her parents.

Fifteen churches in the city are supporting the service at the Ebenezer Free United Church, in Bangor Road, Leith, and posters are being put up to promote it.

Reverend Joey Naika, who is organising and leading the service, said he felt compelled to do something after being involved in similar events in his home country of South Africa.

In 1999, he was a minister at a church in Kuilsriver, in western Cape Town, when five-year-old Renata Ismail, who attended a sister church, was abducted in similar circumstances to Madeleine.

He hopes that non-Christians will also be moved to attend the service at 6.30pm on Sunday.

"Such a thing as the abduction of a child is viewed in any community as a serious offence - it's abhorred. That is why it has drawn the attention of the whole world."

The appeal fund - intended to be used to help find Madeleine, support her family and bring her abductors to justice - has so far raised more than £600,000.