Officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have begun using ground-penetrating radar equipment to probe for disturbed earth on scrubland near where she was last seen.
A man in plain clothes wheeled the device along a section of ground which was earlier cleared with strimmers in Praia da Luz on the Algarve.
On Tuesday officers in Metropolitan Police uniform were also seen carrying out a fingertip search at the same spot as they search for clues as to what happened to Madeleine, who vanished while on holiday in the resort in May 2007, aged three.
Ground-penetrating radar equipment in use during the search for Madeleine McCann
The man spent a few minutes scanning the ground with the device over the small section of land, which is close to the police cordon.
It was then taken away out of sight.
British police officers accompanied by their Portuguese counterparts appear to be concentrating their investigations on the spot, which is close to the path and is strewn with rubbish, along with an area of the scrubland nearby.
The device uses radar pulses to take images of the subsurface of the ground.
It can be used to check for disturbance in a variety of substances, including rock, soil, ice and fresh water. It can also be used to detect voids and cracks in buildings and under pavements.
The large area of scrubland, just a few minutes' walk from the holiday apartment Madeleine was staying in with her family, is bordered by villas and town houses with one section alongside a road.
The site is dominated by a large mound in the middle where police have been parking their vehicles and officers stand watch with binoculars, monitoring the movements of the scores of press gathered below.
As well as the small section of land the radar equipment was used in, officers also appear to be focusing on a flat area to one side of the slope, where soil samples have been taken.
Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007
Forestry workers were today continuing to clear away undergrowth from the spot, using strimmers to aid the search.
Officers have also been seen shovelling earth into buckets which has then been taken away for examination.
Small yellow marker flags poking out of the ground are being used to mark specific sites of interest while tape has been laid on the ground as police carry out their methodical search.
A number of small gazebo-style tents have been erected on the site, with officers on Wednesday putting one up over another area where fingertip searches were previously carried out.
Seach for missing Madeleine McCann
Madeleine McCann missing(01 of92)
British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal begin to search a patch of scrubland just outside of the small town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
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British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal begin to search a patch of scrubland just outside of the small town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
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British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal during a search of a patch of scrubland just outside of the small coastal town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
Madeleine McCann missing(04 of92)
British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal begin to search a patch of scrubland just outside of the small town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
Madeleine McCann missing(05 of92)
British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal during a search of a patch of scrubland just outside of the small coastal town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
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British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal begin to search a patch of scrubland just outside of the small town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
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British police conduct a finger-tip search of an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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A British police officer digs soil in an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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British police and their Portuguese counterparts investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seven years ago from Praia da Luz on the Algarve, in Portugal during a search of a patch of scrubland just outside of the small coastal town as the search for clues enters a second week. (credit:PA)
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A Portugese police officer checks soil samples dug from a hole in an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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A British police officer checking inside a drain next to an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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British police officers lifting a manhole cover and checking inside with a camera, next to an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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British police officers lifting a manhole cover and checking inside with a camera, next to an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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A member of the search team looks at a screen while a camera is placed inside an drain next to an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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British police officers lifting a manhole cover and checking inside with a camera, next to an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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A British police officer clears an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
Search for Madeleine McCann(17 of92)
Forensic police officers preparing to examine a hole in an area of wasteland to search for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police officers lifting a manhole cover and checking inside with a camera, next to an area of wasteland during the search for evidence of Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing seven years ago. (credit:PA)
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Forensic police officers preparing to examine a hole in an area of wasteland to search for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
Search for Madeleine McCann(20 of92)
Forensic police officers preparing to examine a hole in an area of wasteland to search for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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Forensic police officers preparing to examine a hole in an area of wasteland to search for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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Forensic police officers preparing to examine a hole in an area of wasteland to search for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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Forensic police officers preparing to examine a hole in an area of wasteland to search for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police using ground penetrating radar equipment in an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police using ground penetrating radar equipment in an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
Search for Madeleine McCann(26 of92)
A drone flying over an area of wasteland in which British police are searching for Madeleine McCann in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police look at a hole in an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police using ground penetrating radar equipment in an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(29 of92)
Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann work searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 3, 2014 where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(30 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03: British Police officers dig for evidence during a search of an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(31 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03: British and Portuguese police officers work together during a search of an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(32 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03: A British Police officer takes notes during a search of an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(33 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03: A man clears an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(34 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03:British Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood works with a Portuguese police officer during a search of an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(35 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03: British police search of an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(36 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 03: British Police search of an area of scrubland as part of a new investigation into the disappearance Madeleine McCann on June 3, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. British police have started a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared at the age of 3 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve in 2007. (Photo by Filipe Farinha/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police shifting through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann, in the town of Praia da Luz in Portugal where she went missing. (credit:PA)
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British police with sniffer dogs check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police conduct a finger-tip search of an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police conduct a finger-tip search of an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police conduct a finger-tip search of an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police conduct a finger-tip search of an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police conduct a finger-tip search of an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(53 of92)
Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann work in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 2, 2014 searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Portugal where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(54 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 02: Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann search scrubland on June 2, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. (Photo by Filipe Farinha - Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(55 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 02: Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann search scrubland on June 2, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. (Photo by Filipe Farinha - Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Police Begin A New Operation In The Search For Madeline McCann(56 of92)
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL - JUNE 02: Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann search scrubland on June 2, 2014 in Praia da Luz, Portugal. (Photo by Filipe Farinha - Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(57 of92)
Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann work with a sniffer dog searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 3, 2014 where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(58 of92)
Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann work with a sniffer dog searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 3, 2014 where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(59 of92)
Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann work with a sniffer dog searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 3, 2014 where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(60 of92)
Police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann work searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 3, 2014 where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
PRT-ENGLAND-CRIME-MCCANN(61 of92)
A sniffer dog works on a zone signaled by police investigating the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann searching the area of scrubland near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, near Lagos on June 3, 2014 where she vanished seven years ago. The joint Portuguese-British operation could last up to a week, and take in three different patches of land, according to Portuguese media reports. AFP FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Madeleine McCann missing(62 of92)
EDITORIAL USE ONLYBritish police officers search scrubland for missing girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, as they continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of the then three year old who vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant. (credit:PA)
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British police with sniffer dogs check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police with sniffer dogs check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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A Portuguese police officer stands in front of a cordoned off area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal, which where British police are currently searching. (credit:PA)
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British police meet local police at an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police arrive at an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police tape off an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police tape off an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police tape off an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police tape off an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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British police tape off an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. (credit:PA)
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese and British police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
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Portuguese police search scrubland in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal have reportedly arrived at a potential excavation site near where the youngster vanished seven years ago.
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Portuguese police search scrubland in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal have reportedly arrived at a potential excavation site near where the youngster vanished seven years ago.
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Portuguese police search scrubland in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal have reportedly arrived at a potential excavation site near where the youngster vanished seven years ago.
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Portuguese police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant. (credit:EPA)
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Portuguese police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant. (credit:EPA)
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Portuguese police search scrubland for missing British girl Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz, Algarve, southern Portugal, 02 June 2014. Police continue to investigate the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, then aged 3, after she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant. (credit:EPA)
They placed it on top of a spot where a piece of corrugated iron was discovered beneath undergrowth on Tuesday.
The metal is understood to have covered up a void in the ground. The piece of metal was then taken away by officers while men in Metropolitan Police uniform stood around in discussion.
On Tuesday it also emerged sniffer dogs used in the hunt for murdered schoolgirl April Jones have joined the search.
South Wales Police confirmed that two specialist dog handlers and victim detection English springer spaniels Tito and Muzzy were helping with the investigation.
Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry are not in Portugal but are being kept informed by Scotland Yard.
A sniffer dog hunts through scrubland
Their lawyer Isabel Duarte said: “It is my belief that police have some very good information to be carrying out ground searches.
“I believe there is data in the file which has led to this operation because, if not, the police wouldn’t be performing this very drastic task.
“Kate and Gerry have not been given information that Madeleine is dead and until this happens they have to believe she is still alive.
“But they think police will come up with some significant news. It is such a stressful time for them."