Madeleine McCann police funds extended for six months

Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann have been granted thousands of pounds to extend the search for a further six months.

The British Home Office has granted officers £85,000 to cover "operational costs" to continue with the investigation, known as Operation Grange, between April and September this year.

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

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

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

There is one person who was near the area where Madeleine went missing who police want to speak to, the Sunday Express reported.

The paper said there has been an international search to find the person.

A British Home Office spokeswoman said: “Following an application from the Metropolitan Police for Special Grant funding, the Home Office has confirmed #85,000 in operational costs for Operation Grange for the period 1 April until September 2017.

“As with all applications, the resources required are reviewed regularly and careful consideration is given before any new funding is allocated.”

To date a total of £11.1 million has been spent on the search for Madeleine.

PA