Portugal police remarks 'unhelpful'

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Clarence Mitchell told GMTV that finding Madeleine, or finding out what had happened to her, remained the biggest concern of her parents Kate and Gerry.

He was responding to comments by Carlos Anjos, the head of Portugal's police federation, who said: "There are bigger problems in the Policia Judiciaria (CID) than the Maddie case, with all the respect it deserves."

Mr Mitchell said the family had "heard nothing officially" that the case was to be shelved.

He said: "Mr Anjos's comments are not helpful. He is not working on the case and we hope the police are working very hard on the case.

"We have heard nothing officially that the case was to be shelved but we want the police to maintain this case as an active case."

Mr Mitchell said the family welcomed recent comments by Portugal's top policeman Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Policia Judiciaria, who said detectives were too hasty in making the couple suspects over their daughter's disappearance.

He added: "Comments by the head of the PJ led to speculation the case is to be archived.

"We want Kate and Gerry to be eliminated from the inquiry and want the police to work with our own investigators to find out what happened."

Madeline vanished from the McCanns' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3 last year, shortly before her fourth birthday.