McCanns play down letter claim

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Portuguese police are still investigating the contents of an anonymous letter which said the four-year-old was hidden under rocks just nine miles from Praia da Luz.

But the couple are trying to carry on as normal, taking care of two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie and praying for a breakthrough.

On Thursday, Mr McCann slammed Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf for publishing details of the letter before Portuguese police were given a chance to investigate.

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

Speculation reached fever pitch on Thursday after scrubland north of the village of Odiaxere was highlighted as a possible crime scene.

Television crews, photographers and journalists poured into the area but there was no sign of a formal search.

Police spokesman Olegario Sousa said police were taking the claim seriously but insisted it was just one of a number of leads being looked at.

He said they would only start searching an area if a precise location was identified.

The McCanns were told about the anonymous tip-off when they met police to be updated on the investigation.