Home Office to fund new Met operation into Madeleine McCann disappearance

Scotland Yard says it is 'reviewing a significant number of documents'

Madeleine McCann pictured at the age of three, left, and as she might have looked aged nine (PA/Teri Blythe)

Home Secretary Theresa May has agreed to fund an operation by Metropolitan Police to continue the search for Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine, from Leicestershire, disappeared during a family holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz in 2007, nine days before her fourth birthday.

Scotland Yard could not comment directly on this new development, but did say: “We are reviewing a significant number of documents and continue to identify potential lines of inquiry.

“We are in regular contact with [her parents] Kate and Gerry McCann and they are kept fully updated on the progress of our work. We also continue to work closely with the Portuguese police and are actively considering our next steps.”

Portuguese police officially closed the investigation into her disappearance in 2008. It is understood that the Metropolitan Police would be expected to co-operate with the Portuguese authorities.

Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to review the case in 2012 and a computer generated image of what Madeline may look like six years after her disappearance was subsequently released. On 12 May this year Madeleine would be celebrating her tenth birthday.