Resort still living in Madeleine's shadow

By Dan Whitworth
Newsbeat reporter in Praia da Luz

The small gate that leads directly from the apartment onto the road has been padlocked - as if trying to ignore the place will make it easier for people to move on.

This is Praia da Luz and the apartment the McCann family were staying in 12 months ago is now completely boarded up.

It's strange how this corner of the Ocean Club resort is the complete opposite of the rest of the place.

Elsewhere, guests are making the most of the sunshine, lounging by the pool and getting drinks from the now infamous tapas bar.

McCanns' apartment is boarded up

One year on, the Madeleine McCann case remains unsolved, and just about the only place you can still see missing posters is on the church notice board.

Police and private investigators have drawn a blank, but the authorities still class both parents as suspects in the case.

Despite this, Gerry and Kate McCann say they've not given up hope of finding their daughter alive.

"They shouldn't have left her"

Walking around Praia de Luz, talking to people sat in the beachside cafes and bars, it seems like all they're talking about is Madeleine's disappearance - and a lot of people are blaming Gerry and Kate for what happened.

The Praia da Luz Ocean Club resort

Martin moved here from Britain seven years ago: "I feel very sorry for them but they should never have left her alone," he said.

And Martin's not the only one. "It should never have happened in the first place," said one man who didn't want to give his name.

"They should have either taken the kids out with them, or stayed indoors with them."

"I came to say a prayer"

Dozens of people are expected at a special church service for the four-year-old on Saturday, exactly one year on from when she went missing.

A service for Maddy is being held

Inside the church there's a little shrine asking people to pray for her - which is exactly what Cathleen from Glasgow came here to do.

She said: "I get quite upset about it. I have two granddaughters who are twins - same age as Maddy.

"I just think of them every time I see her picture – it's upsetting."