Search teams are expected to start excavating a number of sites in Portugal as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Missing Ben Needham’s mother said she is “delighted” at the news that a blonde girl with blue eyes has been recovered from in a gypsy camp in Greece, the country where her own son was last seen.

The sister of a child who went missing in Greece more than 20 years ago says she wants her own DNA to be tested against that of a little girl found in a gypsy camp in the country in the off chance the girl is related to her missing brother.

Kate McCann has asked to give evidence at the Portuguese libel trial over a book by a former local police chief.

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.

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

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.

Madeleine McCann’s parents are said to be “very, very pleased” with Scotland Yard’s review of their daughter’s disappearance, as it emerged detectives have identified “more than a handful of people of interest” in the case.

A retired solicitor who published claims that Madeleine McCann’s parents caused her death received a suspended jail sentence today.

In Britain, Madeleine McCann's parents are reported to be horrified after a photo of their daughter was used to sell trips to holiday destinations, including Portugal.

A taxi driver who believes he picked up Madeleine McCann the night after she vanished has claimed that Portuguese police ignored his report.

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.

Portuguese police have launched a review of the case of missing girl Madeleine McCann, it has been reported.

The News of the World’s former head of news was told to deliberately mislead the McCanns’ spokesman about the newspaper’s plans to publish Kate McCann’s diary, he said.

THE captain of the wrecked cruise ship that hit rocks off Italy sailed close to land to “show the ship to the port”, the liner’s owners said yesterday.

The number of people missing from a shipwreck off Italy rose to 29 tonight, as the captain was accused of sailing close to land to “make a salute”.

Spanish private detectives claim they have handed Scotland Yard up to eight “very important leads” in the search for Madeleine McCann.

KATE MCCANN told the Leveson Inquiry she felt like “climbing into a hole and not coming out” when the News of the World printed her intensely personal diary.

MADELEINE MCCANN’S family has played down a possible sighting of the missing child in India.

Madeleine McCann’s family has played down a possible sighting of the missing child in India.

Kate and Gerry McCann will today mark the fourth anniversary of their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance privately with family and friends.

KATE and Gerry McCann are to mark the fourth anniversary of their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance privately with family and friends.

KATE and Gerry McCann have put back publication of their book about their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance to avoid clashing with the royal wedding.

Gerry and Kate McCann are hoping to put the focus back on the search for their daughter Madeleine with a new video released to mark the third anniversary of her disappearance.

A young girl resembling Madeleine McCann captured on CCTV film in a New Zealand shop is not the missing girl, police said today.

PORTUGUESE detectives failed to ask for any follow- up investigation after a girl resembling Madeleine McCann was caught on CCTV in New Zealand, it emerged yesterday.

Investigators searching for Madeleine McCann must have access to previously unseen files held by Portuguese police, a spokesman for her parents said.

The libel trial of a Portuguese policeman who published a book including claims missing Madeleine McCann was dead is set to start today.

THE decision of a Portuguese policeman to launch his second book on the day a libel trial is to start concerning his first book on Madeleine McCann was described as “regrettable” by her parents’ spokesman yesterday.

Madeleine McCann’s parents will fly to Portugal tomorrow for the start of a libel trial against former Portuguese policeman Goncalo Amaral.

Kate McCann returned to Portugal today for the first time since being quizzed by police over her daughter Madeleine’s disappearance.

Lawyers representing Kate and Gerry McCann have demanded a website claiming their daughter was not abducted be taken down.

A PORTUGUESE judge has banned further sales or publications of a former policeman’s book which claimed Madeleine McCann is dead, a spokesman for the missing girl’s parents said.

A Portuguese judge today banned further sales or publications of a former policeman’s book which claimed Madeleine McCann is dead, a spokesman for the missing girl’s parents said.

THE parents of missing Madeleine McCann said yesterday the reappearance of child kidnap victim Jaycee Lee Dugard 18 years after she disappeared “only makes us more determined” to find their daughter.

A woman walked into a police station 18 years after she was kidnapped, having had two children by the man who snatched her as an 11-year-old girl, police said today.

THE widow and daughter of an Australian property tycoon have said that they were “perplexed” by reports linking their luxury yacht to the Madeleine McCann investigation.

THE search for Madeleine McCann remained focused on Australia yesterday after police there said a woman came forward claiming to know someone being sought by private detectives.

The search for Madeleine McCann was focused on Australia today after police there said a woman came forward claiming to know someone being sought by private detectives.

Private detectives searching for Madeleine McCann were today following up more than 600 calls and emails, including many which investigators describe as “viable leads”.

PRIVATE detectives hired by Madeleine McCann’s parents yesterday released an e-fit of a “Victoria Beckham lookalike” they believe may have information about the missing girl.

Private detectives hired by Madeleine McCann's parents today released an e-fit of a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" they believe may have information about the missing girl.