Detectives follow new lead in Maddie hunt

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are following an “important” new lead, according to reports.

The tip has strengthened the theory that Madeleine was kidnapped and trafficked, the Sun on Sunday reported.

The paper quoted a source as saying that the new line of inquiry “could provide an explanation on whether Madeleine was abducted and transported away”.

Madeleine disappeared from the family’s apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.

Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed to “never give up” hope of finding their daughter.

Since 2011, the Metropolitan Police has been assisting with the search for clues about what happened to the youngster, with officers visiting the holiday resort in 2014.

The Sun on Sunday claimed the search had been extended “by months” after Scotland Yard was given additional funding.

In April the Home Office granted the investigation, called Operation Grange, £95,000 to cover another six months of the inquiry. But in August, Scotland Yard said that there was “outstanding work” on the case and that the “Metropolitan Police Service will remain in dialogue with the Home Office regarding continuation of funding”.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The Operation Grange team are not prepared to discuss any lines of inquiry whilst the investigation is ongoing.”