The private detective being paid by Kate and Gerry McCann to find their daughter has claimed he knows who took Madeleine and that he could have her back with her family before Christmas.

An advertising campaign was launched across southern Spain today to help find Madeleine McCann.

Portuguese detectives have not contacted the girlfriend of Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat since new allegations emerged that she was seen with the missing child, a friend said today.

The fund set up to support the search for Madeleine McCann was used by her parents to make two mortgage payments, it has emerged.