E-FIT: Images showing what Madeleine McCann could look like now

BRITISH detectives are to return to Spain to investigate a possible gypsy link in the disappearance of Maddie McCann.

A team from Scotland Yard have already spent three days looking into claims that the youngster was smuggled into Spain and taken to Barcelona.

They met with both Spain’s UDYCO organised crime unit and detective Dave Edgar, who has spent years investigating the Spanish claims.

Now they are reported to be returning to investigate the theory that she was snatched by a child kidnap gang run by gypsies.

Portuguese police have already investigated a report by holidaymaker Andre van Wyk that he had seen a girl resembling Madeleine being taken in a cart to a gypsy camp near Portimao, about 16kms from where Maddie disappeared.

Days later a British holidaymaker Jean Godwin saw a girl -’100 per cent Madeleine’ – being dragged around by ‘gypsy women’ 35kms away.

Her information was followed up by both detective Edgar working for the McCann’s and Portuguese police, but nothing was ever conclusive.

The latest development is part of an on-going ‘investigative review’ into the girl’s disappearance in Portugal in 2007, ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron last year.

Last week, the McCann’s spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry welcome the on-going work by the Metropolitan Police and they are pleased that the investigative review is making progress.”