Girl vanishes near Madeleine resort

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Mari Luz Cortez, five, vanished from Huelva, on the Spanish border.

It is just 120 miles away from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz, where Madeleine disappeared on May 3 last year.

According to reports, Mari Luz Cortez was last seen on Sunday afternoon going to buy a packet of crisps from a local shop. Her family, who raised the alarm after searching for her themselves when she failed to return, are said to fear she has been abducted.

Officers have been scouring the area for the girl, and Portuguese police have also been carrying out searches on their side of the border.

The McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell said there were "comparisons" that could be made, but stressed it was too early to say if the two cases were linked.

He said detective agency Metodo 3 were looking into the Spanish youngster's disappearance as a priority.

He said: "Our investigators, Metodo 3 are working very closely with the Spanish police in the first instance, and with the family to establish whether there are any links or similarities."

He said Kate and Gerry McCann were aware of the case and their thoughts were with the youngster's family.

"They are highly concerned to hear that another young girl has gone missing in the region. Their thoughts and prayers are with the Cortez family."