McCanns angry over 'cruel' report

Gerry McCann said the Policia Judiciara had no time to consider the credibility of the information or consider searching the area before the allegations were made public.

Describing the move as "insensitive and cruel", he said he and his wife Kate were deeply upset by what had happened.

Speculation reached fever pitch after Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf revealed they had received an anonymous letter claiming the four-year-old's body was buried in scrubland nine miles from where she was abducted.

It was thought to pinpoint a remote area north of the village of Odiaxere, north east of Praia da Luz where Madeleine was snatched 42 days ago.

Police officers visited the area but there was no sign of a formal search on Thursday morning. A large number of media gathered in the area, waiting for news.

PJ spokesman Olegario Sousa said police were taking the claim seriously but insisted it was one of a number of leads they were looking at. He said they could only start searching an area if they had a precise location.

Writing his blog on the Find Madeleine website, Mr McCann said they were "extremely disappointed" that the details had been released.

"Although all information will be taken seriously, we were very upset that the credibility of this letter had not been examined and, more importantly, published before the Portuguese police had an opportunity to investigate the claim, and search the area if appropriate without massive media attention.

"We feel strongly that this was an irresponsible piece of journalism and even if it were true is insensitive and cruel." He went on: "One can imagine how upsetting it is for Kate and I to hear of such claims."