THE distraught Skipton relations of abducted four-year-old Madeleine McCann have urged everyone, especially holidaymakers, to do everything in their power to help bring her home.

Anne-Marie Wright is the cousin of Madeleine's mum, Kate.

The four-year-old was snatched from the family's holiday apartment in Praia Da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday May 3, sparking an international police investigation.

Mrs Wright said the little girl's abduction had rocked the whole family.

She said she had last seen Madeleine in February when she, her mum Kate, dad Gerry and two-year-old twin siblings, Amelie and Sean, came to stay in Skipton from their home in Leicestershire.

Mrs Wright said: "We had a lovely time with them and the children all get on particularly well. Our children, Katie and Patrick, love Madeleine, Sean and Amelie. We went to Aireville Park, went swimming, went to Hesketh Farm Park, walked along the canal towpath to look at the Rosie and Jim barge. Madeleine is a big Rosie and Jim fan."

The Wright family first heard of Madeleine's disappearance in the early hours of Friday May 4, when Mrs Wright's mum, Sheila Cowell, called with the news.

Mrs Wright's husband, Michael, then drove another relative to join Madeleine's grandparents in Liverpool and then went out to Portugal to help with the search.

Mr Wright is still in the Algarve and is keeping his wife and children informed of developments in the investigation and how Mr and Mrs McCann are coping.

Mrs Wright said: "It's all been very emotional and upsetting. Some days he said they are really focused and coping and getting things done and other days they are devastated."

She said she had spoken to Mrs McCann on the phone on Sunday.

"It was just really difficult and the conversation you don't want to ever have with anybody. She just seemed very numb.

"I just asked how she was coping and talked to her about the massive support there is.

"Ever since this happened people have been coming up to me - there's a really strong feeling - and everybody has been saying their thoughts are with them."

Mrs Wright said the whole family had been glued to the television for news of Madeleine.

"It's upsetting to see people who you know and love on the television. You have to pinch yourself. It's just bizarre."

She added: "They are a delightful family and Kate and Gerry are kind, caring, devoted parents.

"It makes you wonder why something as horrible as this can happen to such good people.

"Everyone in our family desperately wants Madeleine back with her mum, dad, brother and sister."

Mrs Wright said the family was trying to spread the word about Madeleine's abduction as far and wide as possible and urged people to go to the sky.com/news website to print off posters.

She said: "It would be particularly useful to expand the reach of the publicity to other countries in Europe and North Africa.

"We are asking people to think of contacts they may have who would be able to display the poster in areas accessed by the public.

"Prime locations would be banking halls, post offices, ATM locations, large retail outlets such as garages and supermarkets, public transport, trains, buses, taxis etc."

Madeleine's parents, who are both doctors, have also set up a trust which will accept donations to fund the search for their daughter. Details can be found at www.findmadeleine.com