McCanns keep faith in finding missing Maddie 10 years after her disappearance

Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing child Madeleine McCann have spoken ahead of the 10th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance. In an interview with the BBC to mark the occasion, the couple spoke of their continuing hope that Maddie will be found alive.

Madeleine went missing on 3 May 2007, from the family's rented holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. She had been left in the apartment with her brother and sister while the McCanns dined out at a nearby tapas restaurant, 50 metres from the apartment.

Speaking to the BBC about the anniversary, Kate McCann said: "I think it's just that number it's that 10 year mark that makes it significant… It's a reminder of how much time has gone by."

The McCanns, who were at one stage suspects in the case, have endured online abuse as well as a legal battle against Portuguese former detective Goncalo Amaral, who wrote a book in which he suggested the McCanns had faked Madeleine's abduction.

The Portuguese police had been heavily criticised in their handling of the case, but Gerry McCann said the new investigation opened by the UK's Metropolitan Police in 2011 had helped the family

Mr McCann defended the investigation and it's cost – more than £11m ($14.25m), saying: "I think every parent could understand that what you want – and what we have aspired to – is to have all the reasonable lines of enquiry followed to a logical conclusion."

The couple said that the investigation had made real, tangible progress and that with no evidence that Maddie is dead, they still had hope. Last week it was announced by Scotland Yard that the four detectives still working on the case – staffing has scaled back since it started in 2011 – had one significant line of inquiry left to pursue.

Mrs McCann said: "My hope of Madeleine being out there is no less than it was almost 10 years ago."

With their belief of finding Maddie alive still strong, Mrs McCann spoke of how she would still buy presents for their daughter on her birthday and at Christmas. She told the BBC: "I have to think about what age she is and something that – whenever we find her – will still be appropriate… I couldn't not [buy presents] she's still our daughter."