Liverpool-born Kate talks about the support she and her family continue to receive in her home city, which provides them with enormous encouragement.

She also talks about the amazing maturity of her twins, Sean and Amelie, and reveals how ?they bring us that vital bit of joy, laughter and warmth that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning.?

And, crucially, Kate explains how she and her husband, Gerry, believe recent developments have improved their chances of finding their daughter.

There is, inevitably, much sadness in her words ? but, also, much hope.

The world's media, again inevitably, will return to the story of missing Madeleine in the coming days, but it is something, we should remember, that the McCanns and their families live with every minute of every day. And each day, leaving no stone unturned, they are working hard to bring about that longed-for breakthrough.

Every parent in Kate and Gerry's position would surely be doing the same. As they say on findmadeleine.com: ?There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed. Madeleine is still missing and someone needs to be looking for her. She is very young and vulnerable and needs our help. We love her dearly and miss her beyond words.?

So much has been said, so much has been written and so much has seemed to have happened since Thursday May 3, 2007. But, in essence, nothing has happened ? Madeleine disappeared that night and she hasn't been seen since.

That, despite the thousands of headlines that have followed, is the story ? a story which, we all pray, will have a happy ending.