Video plea for Madeleine's return released

LEICESTER, England, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Britons Kate and Gerry McCann say in a new video they are desperate to be reunited with their daughter Madeleine, who disappeared while they were in Portugal.

In the just-released video, the McCanns said they are hopeful the upcoming holiday will mark the last Christmas they are forced to spend without their daughter, who was 3 when she disappeared while the family was on vacation last year, The Mail on Sunday reported.

The video features video footage of Madeleine, including multiple clips taken by the family during Christmas 2006.

While the McCanns make a plea for their daughter's return, they do not appear in it.

"This will be our second Christmas without our daughter," the video plea asks. "Please help us make sure we don't have a third."

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the couple are hopeful the video will serve as a "reminder" to the general public regarding Madeleine's plight, the Mail reported.

"This, they feel, is a timely and appropriate reminder that she is still out there and that somebody somewhere may still have that vital piece of information that may lead to her being found," Mitchell said.