BRITAIN: Support keeps us going - McCann's.

THE parents of Madeleine McCann said last night they had been inundated with messages of support which had helped to keep them strong "during the worst times".

In their first in-depth interview since being made official suspects in the disappearance of their daughter, Kate and Gerry McCann said they had received messages of goodwill from far and wide.

They said they had seen a groundswell of support from people closer to home in Leicestershire and said they wanted to thank the residents of their village, Rothley, and the surrounding area for their continued backing.

Mrs McCann said: "I've had days when, if I wasn't crying about Madeleine, I was crying from the letters and messages people have sent to us. It has helped so much."

Mr McCann said that so many people had written to them that, until recently, they had to collect their mail from the post office in their car.

There would be three crates of letters and cards awaiting collection every day, he said.

The couple, both 39, said they wanted the focus to remain on finding four-year-old Madeleine.

It is 153 days since she went missing from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

Mr McCann said: "We want to increase awareness, get back to basics if you like. We want to refocus the coverage."

Mrs McCann said: "The coverage has been on us. The coverage should be on Madeleine, no one else."