Kate and Gerry McCann will not face new police interviews until after Christmas, it was revealed yesterday.

Detectives have delayed asking for the fresh interrogations until after the festive period, meaning the couple will be able to spend the time with their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie.

They have said they are dreading the festive celebrations without Madeleine, but want to have a "very quiet, private Christmas with family", and to keep the day as normal as possible for the twins.

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Portuguese police will make formal requests for the McCanns and the other members of the so-called Tapas Nine to be re-interviewed some time after December 27.

The requests will have to be rubber-stamped by the Foreign Office and by the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith. Portuguese officers will travel to Britain for the interviews, which will be carried out by British police but in the presence of Portuguese detectives.

 

The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said police had not yet contacted the couple's lawyers about the new interviews. "We welcome the fact that Kate and Gerry will be able to have as normal a Christmas as possible in the circumstances," he said.

"However, we are keen for the process to be completed as soon as possible. No one has anything to hide."

 

Madeleine's grandmother, Eileen McCann, revealed yesterday that she had bought

 presents for Madeleine which she would keep for her safe return.

Mrs McCann, 67, said she planned to put a large pink teddy bear with a big white heart on the four-year-old's bed, ready to welcome her home.

She said: "I always pick out clothes and put money in a little envelope for each of [Madeleine, Sean and Amelie]. This year I did the same for Madeleine. I'd never leave her out.

"She loves the colour pink. I have a huge pink teddy bear with a white heart on it - a gift to her from the Scottish Government. I'm going to put it in her bedroom later."

 

Mrs McCann, of Glasgow, told Hello! magazine: "Our big family Christmases used to be so special. This was my time of the year with my family and it always has been.

"But I'm afraid I won't be celebrating this year because I don't feel like it. What Madeleine's disappearance has done to us is indescribable."

She fought back tears as she said: "I'm sitting here looking at photos of her and wondering where she is and who's got her. When I lost my husband John two years ago, I thought that my world had collapsed. But losing Madeleine is ten times worse.

"It's because we don't know where she is. We need closure of some description: we need to find her. I can only hope and pray she'll be found safe and well."

Mrs McCann insisted she had not given up hope that Madeleine could still be found alive.

She said: "I've always had faith. As long as they don't find her body. I'll never give up hope she's alive. I don't care how long it takes, I just won't give up hope she's alive.

"I don't care how long it takes: I just won't give up hope. When we do finally get her home, she'll have so much love and hugs from us all."

Madeleine's other grandmother, Susan Healy, 61, and her husband Brian, 67, said Madeleine's mother was struggling to cope with the idea of spending Christmas without her oldest daughter.

Mrs Healy told the magazine: "I just don't know what we're going to do this year. Brian and I are feeling very sad and low. It's been the most difficult period we've had so far since Madeleine disappeared.

"I find that I can't think of anything except her from the minute I wake up in the morning.

"My daughter is really struggling at the moment. She just doesn't want it to be Christmas, but obviously we have to do something for the twins."

Mrs Healy, of Allerton, Merseyside, said it was "diabolical" that Kate and Gerry McCann were official suspects in the disappearance.

She said: "Their 'arguido' status should never have been imposed. We know there's nothing to incriminate them and they've known it all along.

"While people are so intent on trying to find scapegoats, nobody is looking for Madeleine."

Mr McCann's sister Philomena, 43, of Glasgow, added: "Nobody's been talking about Christmas, we just want it to pass. Even mentioning the word feels terrible.

"I'm sure Kate and Gerry will do something special for the twins Sean and Amelie, but we've all agreed that none of the adults in the family are buying presents for each other."

She said Madeleine's disappearance was difficult for her young cousins to bear as they prepared for a Christmas without her - a time of year that the lively child had always loved in the past.

Miss McCann said: "There was always loads of food, laughter and games. She'd love to play with her cousins Paul, Fiona and Gregor.

"We'd organise horse-races - with Gerry and me as the horses. The younger children would climb on our backs and we'd race around the living room.

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"We'd play other daft games, too. Madeleine loved singing along to Fiona's karaoke machine, chasing Gregor's remote-controlled cars all over the room. It was hilarious. Fiona, who's Johnny's daughter, is 11 now, she'd look after the little ones.

"They'd jump on their big cousin Paul, my sister Tricia's son. Madeleine's disappearance has been hard on the children. They tend not to talk about it, and insist that they're fine and can cope."

A Foreign Office spokesman denied claims that it had requested the postponement of police interviews until after Christmas to protect the family.

He said: "The Foreign Office remains in contact with the Portuguese authorities and police and will continue to offer assistance. The Portuguese investigation continues."

A police source said: "It is not Policia Judiciaria practice to carry out interrogations at Christmas unless it is absolutely necessary."