Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for a lone intruder who sexually abused five girls during break-ins at holiday homes.

A senior detective investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has thanked the public for thousands of messages received in the wake of recent television appeals.

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have said they hope a renewed investigation into their daughter’s disappearance could lead to her finally being found.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have received another 150 calls after a fresh appeal for information was aired on Dutch television.

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have received nearly 1,000 calls and emails in response to a fresh appeal for information.

Nearly 500 people have contacted police with information following a fresh television appeal into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, Scotland Yard has said.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann last night appealed to Irish people to help identify a man they say is of “vital importance” to their investigation.

It has emerged that an Irish family provided police with details for e-fit images of a man wanted in connection with the disappearnce of Madeleine McCann.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are asking for the public’s help to identify a man in an appeal they say is of “vital importance”.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are asking for the public’s help to identify a man in an appeal they say is of “vital importance”.

Pictures of men seen in and around the Portuguese town of Praia da Luz at the time of Madeleine McCann's disappearance are to be released by British detectives.

It is too early to speculate on where the latest 'Crimewatch' appeal into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann will lead, Scotland Yard said today, saying there is “much ground to cover”.

The parents of Madeleine McCann have said that they are “greatly encouraged” by new information about the disappearance of their daughter.

Kate and Gerry McCann are to make a significant television appeal in light of “fresh, substantive” material unearthed as part of a British police investigation into their daughter’s disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann are to make a television appeal next week in light of “fresh, substantive” material unearthed as part of a British police probe into their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the decision by British detectives to launch their own investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Detectives in Britain have launched their own probe into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and say they have “genuinely new” lines of inquiry and believe there is a chance she is alive.

The Scotland Yard police chief leading the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann said his team has carried out new witness interviews and was in a “unique position” in analysing information from police in Portugal and Britain, as well as seven private detective firms.

British detectives have launched their own investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and say they have “genuinely new” lines of inquiry and believe there is a chance she is alive.

Kate and Gerry McCann have said they have “no doubt” the Portuguese authorities will eventually reopen the investigation into their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann said today they have "no doubt" that the Portuguese authorities will eventually reopen the investigation into their daughter Madeleine's disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann have spoken of their renewed hope that their daughter Madeleine will be found five years on from her disappearance in Portugal.

Kate and Gerry McCann will mark the fifth anniversary of their daughter, Madeleine’s, disappearance this week amid renewed hopes she will be found.

Portuguese police have refused to reopen the inquiry into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The parents of Madeleine McCann are “hugely encouraged” by the momentum in the case of their missing daughter.

Scotland Yard has urged Portuguese authorities to re-open the search for Madeleine McCann as detectives said there were 195 potential leads to finding her alive.

The UK's Scotland Yard has urged Portuguese authorities to reopen the search for Madeleine McCann today as detectives said there were 195 potential leads to finding her alive.

Scotland Yard detectives have flown to Spain as part of their review of the Madeleine McCann case.