IF you're a parent, you've probably spent the weeks since four-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished clutching your own children a little bit closer.

With a growing sense of horror, we have watched Kate and Gerry McCann's frantic search for their young daughter, snatched from their apartment in the Algarve just over a month ago.

But as thousands of families prepare to jet off on holiday there are some basic steps you can take to ensure your child's safety.