Maddy cops' new raids after 'significant' advance All police across region ordered to be at the ready


Detectives in the hunt for Madeleine McCann were last night preparing to launch a series of fresh raids following a "significant" new development.

The dramatic move comes after new evidence was unearthed in the 15-week-long inquiry.

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Portuguese capital Lisbon has signed a clutch of new search warrants and every detective in the Algarve region has been put on standby.

Portuguese investigators were last night remaining resolutely tight-lipped on the nature of the new clues and developments in the case.

However, a source confirmed yesterday: "Everyone has been sworn to secrecy and the full facts are not known, but there has been progress.

"All detectives in the region have been told to be ready to go and there are searches planned. It is a new operation."

The search permits, covering locations in Praia da Luz, were signed on Friday and expire tomorrow night.

But officers can ask magistrates for an extension if they believe their investigation warrants it.

They will today re-interview staff at Praia da Luz's Ocean Club resort, where Madeleine, four, and parents Kate and Gerry were staying. They will also speak again to key witnesses such as Pamela Fenn, 73, who lives above the McCanns' apartment and caught a prowler in her flat a few weeks before Madeleine was snatched on May 3.

In a separate development, a Portuguese newspaper has claimed detectives have a new British suspect, said to have been under surveillance for weeks.

Correio de Manha reported that police are set to issue an arrest warrant for the man, who lives in the UK. Neither Portuguese nor British forces would comment.

Robert Murat, 33, remains the sole official suspect, although he denies involvement.

Investigators are still awaiting DNA test results on specks of blood found inside the McCanns' flat. The evidence is being analysed at a Birmingham lab and the findings should be known by the end of this week.

Meanwhile, Kate - clutching Madeleine's favourite Cuddle Cat toy - attended mass in Praia da Luz yesterday, where she was again warmly welcomed by worshippers.

One woman spent more than five minutes chatting to her. Gerry was away collecting friends from nearby Faro airport.

The couple, both 39, are thought to be planning to end their heartbreaking sojourn in Portugal next month.

They are said to be desperate for their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie to return to some semblance of normal life at home in Rothley, Leics.

The two doctors are also feeling the financial pinch of living in Portugal for nearly five months. Although the Find Madeleine fund has raised more than £1million, the couple refuse to dip into it to cover living expenses and use it only for campaign-related expenses.

Fund director Esther McVey confirmed the McCanns had asked for nothing to meet personal costs.

She said: "What has been asked for has been the website and various other expenses to do with finding Madeleine.

"Everything is totally scrutinised because we know it could be a long-term search for Madeleine. We're just trying to make the money go as far as possible."