Dear Kate and Gerry

LIKE YOU I am a parent. I have two beautiful girls who I adore and I can say hand on heart, just like every Sun reader, that not only would I do time for them but I would lay down my life for them.

No doubt you feel the same about your three. Therefore, as a dad, i can't understand your reluctance to return to Portugal.

You should never have left Madeleine and the twins home alone even for one night, let alone virtually every night of your holiday.

Of course your neglect that evening did not mean you deserved to lose your beautiful daughter, and I have enormous sympathy for your loss.

However you messed up. You should return and face the consequences of that action. You should also take part in the reconstruction and do everything in your power, as you promised the British public when you asked us to donate money to find Madeleine.

Yes, it will be difficult for you and, yes, the Portuguese police may have not handled the investigation well. But the longer you stay in Britain, I am afraid the more fuel you will give to the people who believe you have something to hide.

You are not detectives, you are doctors, but when leading experts like the man who caught Jamie Bulger's killers, retired Detective Superintendent Albert Kirby, say you should take part in a reconstruction you should heed their advice.

For the record I cannot believe that you had anything to do with the disappearance of Maddie. However you must be aware there are plenty of people who are of that opinion.

The only way to defeat these people is to return and help in any way possible to catch the person or persons responsible for your daughters disappearance.

All the best,

Jon