New Blow For Madeleine's Parents

Kate and Gerry McCann have admitted the Portuguese police files into their daughter’s disappearance hold fewer clues than they had hoped.

They were praying the thousands of documents from the huge dossier of evidence, released in August, would contain missed clues into Madeleine’s whereabouts.

But Gerry, 40, said: "We're not halfway through but there is less information than we expected."

He also said he and Kate have expanded the support team to find the little girl, who was three when she vanished in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3 2007.

The files assembled by detectives over more than 14 months include forensic reports, witness statements, police intelligence and details of hundreds of possible sightings of Madeleine reported around the world.

Also in the file is the final 58-page report written by the Portuguese public prosecutors, who ruled on July 21 that the case should be shelved.

When the eagerly-awaited dossier was handed over in the summer, Mr McCann said his family "strongly believed" Madeleine could still be found and made a fresh appeal for information from the public.

However, Gerry said it was getting harder to find the clues to unlock a “painful situation” as the days go on without her.

But the McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said there was still hope. “The files do show what the police did not do, which can suggest new avenues,” he added.

Gerry also revealed the pain the family felt as they reached the 18-month milestone of their daughter's disappearance.

He said: "This week was unusual in that both Kate and I were feeling low at the same time, which is an uncommon occurrence, and we can usually rely on one of us lifting the other.”

He added: "Monday 3rd of November was 18 months since Madeleine was so cruelly taken from us.

"We do not usually put a lot of store in specific milestones - these being just another day without Madeleine.

"We continue to work very hard behind the scenes. Our support team has been expanded as we try to identify what has been done, what has not been done and what can still be done to help find Madeleine.

"As I have stated many times, someone has a key bit of information that can unlock this frustratingly difficult and painful situation."