Madeleine hotline swamped by calls

The investigators yesterday issued an e-fit of the woman, described as an Australian Victoria Beckham-lookalike, who reportedly asked a witness if he was there to deliver her "new daughter" just days after the Leicestershire girl's disappearance.

Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann, said there had already been a "substantial" response to the appeal, including several possible names for the woman.

The private detectives are now going through the information from the public and deciding which leads to follow up.

Mr Mitchell said: "We have had a substantial response overnight, with many hundreds of calls coming in particular from Australia. I understand many calls have also been made to the Australian police.

"Some names have been put forward, and all of this information is now being analysed and prioritised by the detectives. They are extremely grateful to everyone who has come forward with information. Where and when appropriate they will of course be liaising with the Australian authorities.

"As we stressed yesterday, the Australian dimension is just one part of the overall investigation into Madeleine's disappearance and work is continuing on several fronts."

Madeleine, from Rothley, was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Just over 72 hours later, in the early hours of May 7, two British men saw the woman while on a night out in the popular Port Olimpic Marina in Barcelona in Spain. She was well-dressed but appeared agitated and kept walking up and down outside the El Rey de la Gamba restaurant-bar as if she was waiting to meet somebody.

When one of the British men approached and spoke to her, she reportedly asked him: "Are you here to deliver my new daughter?" Mr Mitchell refused to confirm or deny any details about this conversation.