Judge blocks bid to send McCanns back to Portugal for new police quiz

Portuguese detectives are understood to have wanted Madeleine McCann's parents and their seven holiday friends to return to the Algarve.

But judge Pedro Anjos Frias - who was today given permission to speak to the media - is said to have ruled that the evidence is not substantial enough to warrant such a move.

The decision is a sign that the tide might finally be turning in favour of the McCanns, who have endured limitless speculation that they had a hand in their daughter's disappearance.

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The responsibility of questioning the couple will now be handed to British police, who will work on behalf of their Portuguese counterparts.

That could happen as early as this week, although Portuguese authorities will first have to make a formal request to British police - a process which is likely to take longer as all the evidence has to be translated into English.

The McCanns' new spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: 'Kate and Gerry want to get the message out that they are entirely innocent and have nothing to hide.

'They want to clear their names so that police can get on with the job of finding their daughter.'

Mr McCann's sister Philomena has also launched an online petition to gather signatures from those convinced that the McCanns are innocent.

She hopes that her 'Gerry And Kate McCann Are Innocent' petition - at www.ipetitions.com - will convince the Government to put pressure on Portuguese police to improve their search.

The decision not to order Mrs McCann's return has annoyed some detectives who do not believe their British counterparts will succeed.

But other detectives are pleased that Leicestershire police will be forced to share the blame for perceived any failures.

A letter of appeal will be sent to Britain setting out the new questions.

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Portuguese officers are understood to be keen to sit in on any interviews as observers, but a source admitted there was only a 'very low' probability this would happen.

In theory, Leicestershire police could start re-interviews this week.

However it is likely they will wait until the final results are in from the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham, which could be next week or later.