Speculation over Maddie funding

SPECULATION is growing over the future of the UK police hunt for Madeleine McCann after it emerged funding will run out at the end of the month.

The youngster was three when she disappeared while on holiday with parents Kate and Gerry, of Rothley, in Portugal in May 2007.

Scotland Yard launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into her disappearance in 2013, after a Portuguese inquiry failed to make any headway.

UK detectives were granted an extra £150,000 in March to continue the probe until the end of September.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force is “in dialogue regarding future funding” with the Home Office.

A Home Office spokesman said: “To date, no request has been received from the Metropolitan Police Service to extend funding for Operation Grange beyond the end of September 2018.”

The department said any request for further funding by the Metropolitan Police would be “carefully considered”.

Operation Grange has cost £11.6m so far.