Madeleine's parents take search to Spain

LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) Distraught parents Gerry and Kate McCann flew to Spain today to widen the appeal for help in finding their four-year-old daughter Madeleine, abducted from a villa in neighbouring Portugal a month ago.

The couple believe the girl could have been taken over the border soon after being snatched on May 3.

Posters of the girl have been distributed around the Continent by multi-national companies, but the McCanns, who say they will not return home to the UK until Madeleine is found, went to Spain to make a personal appeal.

They are asking holiday-makers travelling in Europe to post pictures of their daughter in public places in the hope someone might have information that could lead to her safe return.

On Wednesday, the couple were at the Vatican to receive a blessing from Pope Benedict.

During their brief meeting the Pope blessed a photograph handed to him by Kate McCann of her missing daughter.

''There was recognition immediately, looking at Madeleine's photograph, and his touch and thoughts and words were more tender than we could have thought and that will help sustain us during this most difficult time,'' Gerry McCann said later.

Reuters DS RN1914