Madeleine McCann's parents delete Twitter account after abuse

Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007. Photo / Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook

The parents of Madeleine McCann have been forced to delete their Twitter account after receiving a deluge of abusive messages.

Kate and Gerry McCann felt they had to put a stop to the "toxic" messages directed at them as it was hampering the hunt for their daughter.

The web chief who runs the Find Madeleine Campaign on Twitter announced the decision saying they will focus on Facebook instead to raise awareness.

The message said while the vast majority of people care about Madeleine the "hatred and sheer viciousness directed at Kate and Gerry" had been alarming.

"It is hard to accept that some people can be so cruel to a family that has already experienced the worst pain imaginable," the webmaster wrote.

Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007.

According to news.com.au reports the move comes after recent friction between the Find Madeleine campaign and that of missing child Ben Needham.

Ben was 21-months old when he disappeared from the Greek island of Kos in 1991.

Ben was 21-months old when he disappeared from the Greek island of Kos in 1991. Photo / Help Find Ben Needham Facebook

The Find Madeleine Twitter account had blocked the Find Ben Needham campaign as the webmaster said they needed to "shield us from the abuse and negativity".

The Telegraph reports Ben's mother Kerry Needham recently questioned the amount of British taxpayer's money spent on looking for Madeleine.

"In the past three weeks on Twitter, we have found ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being expected to 'follow' people who align themselves with accounts that abuse us in the most vile ways on a regular basis," the message stated.

A spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann said the couple have always supported the campaign to find Ben and have promoted it on social media.

"However, it is a great pity that due to continued, ill-informed and abusive comments by some social media users, the decision was made to close Find Madeleine Twitter account.

"Kate and Gerry continue to wish Kerry Needham the best and hope that one day she will be reunited with Ben, just as they continue to hope that they will similarly be reunited with Madeleine."

- nzherald.co.nz