AS the search for missing Madeleine McCann continues in Portugal, two Merchant Taylors' School pupils are doing what they can to raise global awareness of her disappearance.

Laurence Hebberd and David Mason, both in Year 11 at the Northwood school, have created a page on popular social networking website Facebook. Their site is committed to the safe return of the four-year-old from Leicestershire whose abduction has gripped the nation.

In less than a week, 10,000 people from across the world had joined the "We pray for Madeleine McCann" site set up by the boys.

The site's aim is to be positive, and more than 750 people have left messages of support for Maddy and her family.

"I just saw the news and thought that this little girl did not deserve what has been put upon her," said Laurence, 16, from Chiltern Avenue, Bushey.

"I wanted to start the group to generate a lot of positive thoughts and to give people a place to share those thoughts and prayers. But I never imagined it would take off as it has."

The page, which can be accessed by any member of the multi-million strong Facebook community, includes photos of Maddy, links to news of the ongoing search for her and the latest developments in the hunt for her abductor.

The page had more than 1,000 members by just its second day and Laurence and David have kept its members posted as its numbers have rapidly grown.

"When it hit 10,000 members I just couldn't believe it," said David, 15, from Elstree. Meanwhile, pupils at Field Junior School in Watford Fields will carry out a collection for the Maddy campaign on Saturday.

Melinda Sabat said her daughter Megan and her friends had been disturbed by the Maddy story and wanted to do something positive for the cause.

They will be collecting at the fete which runs from 11.30am to 2pm. Funds collected will go towards the search for Maddy.