Two national newspapers printed front-page apologies to Madeleine McCann's parents today for articles suggesting they were responsible for their daughter's death.

The Daily Express and the Daily Star also agreed to pay a "very substantial" sum - understood to be £500,000 - to the couple's official Madeleine's Fund.

Express Newspapers, which publishes both titles, will make a further public apology in the High Court today. Lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann complained several weeks ago over more than 100 articles published in the group's four daily and Sunday papers.

The pieces appeared after Portuguese detectives last September named the couple as "arguidos", or official suspects, in their daughter's disappearance.

Their legal team argued that the tone of coverage in the Express Group papers implied they may have been involved, and that this was defamatory.

Both newspapers ran prominent pieces at the top of their front pages today, headlined "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry".
The Express apology read: "The Daily Express today takes the unprecedented step of making a front-page apology to Kate and Gerry McCann.

"We do so because we accept that a number of articles in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up.

"We acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory, and that Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance.

"We trust that the suspicion that has clouded their lives for many months will soon be lifted."

It concluded with a direct address to the couple: "Kate and Gerry, we are truly sorry to have added to your distress.

"We assure you that we hope Madeleine will one day be found alive and well, and will be restored to her loving family."

The statement in the Daily Star was similarly worded.  It is understood that the Sunday Express and the Daily Star Sunday will also publish apologies this weekend.

The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "An agreement has been reached with the Express Newspapers but I cannot go into detail before a hearing at the High Court."

The McCanns are understood to be "pleased" that an agreement has been reached.

A friend of the couple said: "It will not bring Madeleine back but if the resolution of this case helps to find her then all well and good."

A spokesman for the Daily Express said: "We have nothing to add to what will be said in court and in our titles."

Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3 last year while her parents dined at a nearby tapas bar with friends.

Mr and Mrs McCanns remain official suspects in the Portuguese police investigation but they strenuously protest their innocence.