Lorraine Kelly: It's a decade since Maddie vanished but we must keep hope for McCanns

Madeleine McCann, as British detectives working on the McCann case are still pursuing "critical" leads as the 10th anniversary of her disappearance approaches, a Scotland Yard chief has said. (Family Handout/PA Wire) NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

IT’S almost 10 years since Madeleine McCann vanished while on holiday with her parents in Portugal.

Despite heart-rending appeals from her parents, millions being spent on a UK-led police investigation and countless tip offs, we still don’t know where Madeleine is, or whether she is alive or dead.

It’s an utter tragedy and I cannot even begin to understand what her parents Kate and Gerry have gone through and how much they will continue to suffer until they find out the truth.

I feel especially sorry for Madeleine’s little brother and sister, the twins Sean and Amelie. They were just babies when she disappeared and probably don’t really remember her being in their lives.

Their parents will keep her memory alive and the twins will be all too aware of what happened to Madeleine, and that’s a tough thing for any child to come to terms with.

I’m sure there are photos of Madeleine all over the house and Kate has spoken about how Madeleine’s room has been kept for her and is filled with unopened Christmas and birthday presents.

She is a real presence in all of their lives and it is absolutely right that she mustn’t be forgotten, but finding out must have caused the twins a great deal of upset and disquiet.

Although Kate and Gerry will have tried to hide it from them, I’m sure the twins will have seen their parents and other family members and friends struggling with their feelings of loss and grief.

I’ve often thought about the two of them growing up in the shadow of what happened to Madeleine, and how hard it must be for their parents not to be over-protective.

They will be understandably worried every time Sean and Amelie are out of their sight, but also they won’t want to smother them either.

It’s a difficult tightrope to walk, and getting the balance right between giving children freedom and making sure they are safe is a constant source of stress and worry for all of us parents, but even more so for Kate and Gerry.

The twins are 11 years old now and they will be able to see the reports in the papers and in the news about their big sister especially as we approach 10 years of her being missing.

They have had to grow up without Madeleine in their lives, which is just so unbearably sad.

At least they have loving parents who have had to be incredibly strong, and they also have each other in that unique bond that exists between twins.

I hope that gives the twins both some solace and comfort on this very sad anniversary because although no one wants to give up hope, the more time that passes means the less likely we are to every find any answers.

All we can do is hope and send our sincere sympathy to the entire McCann family.