SHARON Osbourne has branded Madeleine McCann's parents "insane" for leaving their daughter alone in a hotel room.

The TV star has hit out at the parents of Madeleine, who disappeared during a holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal in May 2007.

She said: "They left their baby in the room sleeping ... while they went to dinner in the restaurant.

"While they were in the resort their baby was taken. And it is like, 'Oh but we can see everything that is going on'. It is like insane."

The 63-year-old mother-of-three claimed she would never have left her own children alone in that scenario.

Sharon told the US chatshow 'The Talk': "It is like so many things happen in just a second. If you leave a candle on and the curtain blows on it and it caught on fire.

"And I think of all these scenarios in my head and there is no way in a million years that you would ever do that."

Sharon's remarks have reportedly outraged parents Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter was only three when she went missing.

A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: It's very disappointing when someone with such a high profile makes this sort of ignorant, ill-informed comment.

"She should think about the effect it could have on Madeline's brother and sister, as well as the wider family.

"Kate and Gerry have never forgiven themselves and this should not have been aired in a random way, as it apparently was.

"It's based on ignorance of the true facts. While she's entitled to her view she should keep it to herself."

Kate and Gerry have previously admitted being plagued by guilt over the incident, which led to a worldwide search for Madeleine in the weeks and months following her disappearance.