The initial Portuguese investigation failed to preserve the scene adequately, so the opportunity to gather forensic evidence from Madeline McCann's room at the Ocean Club was lost. Long-term residents remember joining in uncoordinated and ad-hoc searches of the town.

German police investigating the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann in a Portuguese holiday resort in 2007 will carry out fresh searches.

Portugal’s main national criminal investigation agency said the operation was prompted by a legal order issued by German authorities who are investigating a German man in the case.