Madeleine's father: 'Abductor was hiding in apartment while I checked on her'

Gerry McCann is convinced his daughter's abductor hid in their apartment as he checked on his children, it has been revealed today.

Mr McCann has told friends he believes the kidnapper was already there when he looked in on Madeleine and their two-year-old twins.

The McCanns, who remain suspects in the investigation, now believe the kidnapper got in through unlocked patio doors and left carrying Madeleine through a bedroom window at the front of the ground-floor apartment.

The girl's parents are convinced Madeleine was being watched during the course of their week-long holiday in the Algarve. She went missing on the sixth day of their break and they are convinced she was stolen to order.

The Standard can also reveal for the first time today that Kate McCann first realised something was wrong when she went to open the bedroom door to check on her daughter at 10pm.