A mass is being held in Liverpool to mark the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The service is taking place today at the church of Our Lady of the Annunciation, attended by Madeleine’s grandparents, Brian and Susan Healy.

The church has held a vigil for Madeleine each week since she went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, Portugal in 2007.

Parish priest Fr Tim Buckley CSSR was quoted by the BBC as saying: “We hope to God there will be a happy ending to this horrible, horrible story.”

Madeleine’s parents, Gerry and Kate, remain hopeful as Scotland Yard continues its review into the original investigation over their daughter’s disappearance.

Mr McCann, 43, said: “I’m certainly more confident now than at any point for the last four-and-a-half years that we actually will find Madeleine and who is responsible.”

He added: “I think the most important thing is that a lot of the investigation opportunities are in Portugal.

“I think it’s fairly clear that the case will have to be re-opened for those to be pursued adequately.

“We weren’t expecting a knee-jerk reaction by any means. This is an ongoing dialogue, and I am sure the investigation will get opened again in due course. I have no doubt about that.”

The mass for Madeleine and her family will be held at 7:30pm.