Ground search in McCann case

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann yesterday cordoned off an area of scrubland near where the British girl vanished seven years ago.

Officers placed yellow-and-white police tape around the waste ground, which is mostly level and slightly larger than a soccer field, and were expected to conduct a forensic examination of the area in coming days. Officials have said detectives may use excavators, dogs and ground-penetrating radar as they scrutinise the terrain.

Officials made no immediate comment on the developments.

The scrubland is about 300m from the Praia da Luz resort in southern Portugal where Madeleine vanished.

Authorities in Portugal and Britain said recently they would conduct new searches in coming weeks.