Madeleine: McCanns tell private detectives to put an end to 'wild' claims

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Francisco Marco, the head of Spanish agency Metodo 3, claimed in his latest newspaper interview to know the missing toddler was being kept near North Africa and that she would be home by Christmas.

A close friend of the family said: "It's not helpful and we have told them that. They have been told not to do any more interviews."

Spanish newspaper Metro quoted 39-year-old Mr Marco as claiming that he knew Madeleine's kidnapper and was close to reuniting the four-year-old with her parents.

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Furious: The McCanns have told Metodo 3, the private investigators they have hired, that their £50,000-a-month contract is under review

He said: "I hope she'll be back with her parents before Christmas."

The couple have now warned the controversial detective firm that its £50,000-a-month contract is being reviewed, as the boasts could have jeopardised the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance.

John Bateman, a former detective who runs UK-based P&D Investigations, said: "This is crazy. You should never make this kind of announcement, firstly for the security of the child and, secondly, you are alerting the offender."

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs McCann thanked their supporters yesterday, adding that they were preparing for an "incredibly difficult" Christmas.