Kate and Gerry McCann are calling for a full case review over their daughter Madeleine's disappearance

Kate and Gerry McCann have launched a petition for a joint or independent review over their daughter Madeleine's disappearance

Kate and Gerry McCann said they have had enough of "fluffy worthless words" and are calling again for a full case review over their daughter Madeleine's disappearance.

Exactly three-and-a-half years since Madeleine went missing, the couple said they want "action" and for "somebody to do something".

They launched a petition on Tuesday to lobby the UK and Portuguese governments for a joint or independent review of the case.

"Essentially for the last three-and-a-half years the authorities have not been doing anything proactive to help Madeleine," Mr McCann said.

The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have met with former home secretaries Alan Johnson and Jacqui Smith, as well as current Home Secretary Theresa May, to discuss the issue and to ask for a review of the case.

Mrs McCann said when they met Mr Johnson, who commissioned a "scoping exercise" by CEOP to see if a review would be helpful, they felt they were making progress, but now did not even know if the report had been read.

"There has not been a formal case review and I think for such a serious case like this, and with the profile of it and international aspects, that should be carried out," her husband said.

Madeleine was three when she went missing from her family's holiday flat in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 as her parents dined with friends nearby.

Portuguese police launched a massive investigation with the support of British officers, but the inquiry was formally shelved in July 2008 without reaching any firm conclusions about her fate.

Private detectives employed by the McCanns are still investigating the case and as well as the petition, the couple are appealing for continued financial support for the official Find Madeleine fund - as it stands the fund will run out in spring 2011.