The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have visited Richmond to find out more about the work of a charity that helps locate missing people.

Kate and Gerry McCann, whose four-year-old daughter was kidnapped from Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3 last year, met representatives from East Sheen-based charity Missing People and Missing Children Europe.

Ross Miller, of Missing People, said the McCanns wanted to find out more about the charity's role within Missing Children Europe, the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children, and to hear about its work first hand.

He said: "Kate and Gerry were very interested to learn more about our new research programme.

"This aims to fill gaps in the information currently available about the numbers of people going missing, why they go missing, their experiences while away and the impact on those left behind."

On the same day, 302 days after Madeleine's abduction, Gerry wrote on his blog praising the work of the charity.

He said: "Missing People were responsible for displaying Madeleine's image on Marble Arch, along with two other missing children last summer.

"It was heartening to hear today that one of those children was recovered as a direct result and the other has also been successfully returned to his family."

The Richmond Guardian also received reports that the couple visited the Depot restaurant, in Tideway Yard, Mortlake High Street, and were being filmed.

However, staff at the restaurant remained tight-lipped about the couple's visit and refused to comment about the filming.