EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT, England, Sept 9: The parents of missing toddler Madeleine McCann returned to Britain from Portugal on Sunday, insisting they were not behind her disappearance after being named as formal suspects by the Portuguese police.

Health professionals Gerry and Kate McCann, named as formal suspects on Friday, landed at 12:15 pm (1115 GMT) having left Faro airport at 9:40 am (0840 GMT) and embarked carrying their two-year-old twin children Sean and Amelie.

“Portuguese law prohibits us from commenting further on the police investigation,” Gerry McCann told reporters on the tarmac. “Our return is with the full agreement of the Portuguese authorities and police.”

His voice breaking, he added: “Despite there being so much we wish to say, we are unable to do so, except to say this: we played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter, Madeleine.”

He said that the family was returning home to the village of Rothley in Leicestershire “after careful thought”.

”We want the twins, as much as is reasonably possible, to live an ordinary life in their home country, and want to consider the events of the last few days, which have been so deeply disturbing.

“While we are returning to the UK, it does not mean we are giving up our search for Madeleine.” Portuguese law prevents them from discussing the investigation ever since being named formal suspects, but the couple hit out before they were given the “arguido” status.

In an interview with a British newspaper, made Friday before being named as a formal suspect, Kate McCann said she was being framed and the Portuguese police want the investigation to end as they are running out of money.—AFP