McCann's ask to see French 'Madeleine' video

Madeleine McCann’s parents called on French police to let them view video footage of a reported sighting of their little girl.

The request came as confusion surrounded a claim made by a Dutch tourist that she spotted the missing four-year-old in the southern French city of Montpellier.

Melissa Fiering, 18, believes she saw Madeleine – missing since she vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Portugal last May – at a service station last Friday.

She is sure it was the youngster because of how the child reacted when her name was called and because she saw a mark in the girl’s eye similar to Madeleine’s distinctive facial feature, the teenager told a Dutch newspaper.

A man accompanying the child then left the restaurant with her a short time later, said Miss Fiering.

On Wednesday, a French police spokesman said investigators had examined CCTV footage from the restaurant and determined it was not Madeleine.

But yesterday a spokesman would only say that the girl caught on camera did not appear to be held against her will.

“These tapes are not very usable,” the official said, adding that “nothing can guarantee the result” of even a close study.

Madeleine disappeared from the Praia da Luz apartment on May 3.

Since then there have been several reported sightings of her around Europe and north Africa, all of which have proven to be false leads.

On the latest, Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for her parents, said: “Kate and Gerry have yet to hear anything officially from police about the identity of the child in this video material.

“We believe from indications we have received that the child is not Madeleine, however, if this video material is of very poor quality I would hope that the French authorities are certain that the child is not Madeleine before they rule it out.

“Kate and Gerry would still like to view this material if possible in the very near future to be sure themselves.”

Montpellier prosecutor Jean Philippe said the tapes could be turned over today to British authorities, which must make a specific demand.