Detectives released this computer generated image of a woman, said to resemble Victoria Beckham

Kate and Gerry McCann say they have received 1,000 reports following their appeal over a Victoria Beckham lookalike who may be connected to the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.

Investigators for the family want to trace the woman, said to resemble Victoria Beckham, who asked a witness at a Spanish marina if he was there to deliver her 'new daughter'.

The well-dressed woman was described as possibly having an Australian accent and appeared agitated.

The McCann family's private detectives are following up on 1,000 calls and emails received since last month, including many which investigators describe as 'viable leads'.

'At the start of August this year, our investigators appealed to the general public for more information following a credible account by a witness,' said the McCanns on their website. 

'This related to a lady acting suspiciously in Barcelona on May 7, 2007 in the early hours of the morning.

'Our investigators received approximately 1,000 emails and phone calls following this appeal and have been busy working through this information', they added.  

'Thank you to everybody who passed information on to our team. We would like to encourage anyone who may still have potentially relevant information to come forward.

'It is important to note that although the witness thought that the woman in question may have had an Australian accent, it is possible that this may not be the case.'

A spokesman for the New South Wales Police Force had said: 'A Sydney woman provided a formal statement to detectives at a Sydney police station.

'She claims to know the identity of the woman being sought by the private investigators attached to the McCann family.

Hunt for Madeleine: Detectives are following up on 1,000 calls and emails following their appeal over a Victoria Beckham lookalike

'New South Wales Police Force will forward the information received to the Australian Federal Police for follow up.' 

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3, 2007 while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Just over 72 hours later, two British men saw the woman in question while on a night out in the popular Port Olimpic Marina in Barcelona.

After speaking to one of the witnesses the woman went into a bar next door, where she had a heated conversation with a local in what seemed to be fluent Spanish.

Meanwhile the McCanns say they are relieved that a Portuguese judge banned further sales or publication of a book by a former policeman that claims Madeleine is dead.

The book, The Truth of the Lie by Goncalo Amaral is subject to an injunction.

Mr Amaral worked on the investigation into the disappearance but was removed from the case after criticising British police.

'Nothing can be more soul-destroying for a parent than for somebody to "write off" your missing child for whatever reason without any evidence to support such a theory,' said the McCanns.

'The anguish and torment that we have suffered as a result of Mr Amaral's unfounded claims and actions has been immense, compounding the pain and sadness we feel every day without Madeleine in our lives.

'Madeleine deserves so much more than treatment like this. She is still missing and we will never give upon her,' they added.

'It is important to remember that the good people far outweigh the bad, even though those with cruel intentions can bring you down.

'Every day we still receive a small bundle of supportive letters to our home and kind messages via the website, as well as positive words from passers-by.

'After a "not so good" day, it is this kindness and solidarity that lifts us up and keeps us going.

'To those people, we are so grateful and we will never forget the great benefit of simple human kindness.Thank you from all our family.'