Couple saw bundle taken out to sea near where Madeleine disappeared, but police ignored them

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The tourists had been for a morning swim just nine hours after the little girl disappeared when they spotted the jetski.

A man in a dark wetsuit was riding it, with a 2ft- to 3ft-long black package on the front.

He took it to a small "official-looking" grey boat moored just off the coast at Salema.

But despite reporting the sighting to staff at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz - where Madeleine had been staying - police have not interviewed the couple.

Last night the McCanns' spokesman said they were concerned the Portuguese police had not followed up such a "potentially significant lead".

The new witnesses came forward after months of concern that the report had not been investigated by police hunting for the four-year-old.

The couple from south-west England, who did not want to be named, were visiting relatives Patrick Matthews, 37, and his wife Eliza, 25, in Salema, near Praia da Luz.

Mr Matthews said: "They were afraid to come forward but we know the police were informed of this, just days after, and yet we were not interviewed or even contacted."