McCanns consider own tests on car

The McCanns are waiting for a judge to decide if they face charges

The parents of Madeleine McCann are considering commissioning independent tests on the hire car that they used in Portugal.

A friend of the family says the car is being kept in a "safe place" after it emerged that earlier police tests had uncovered DNA evidence.

Kate and Gerry McCann are waiting for a judge to decide if they face charges.

Meanwhile they have said they will not use money raised by the Find Madeleine fund to pay for legal expenses.

It is understood the couple are planning their own tests amid suspicion about claims made by detectives in interviews with Kate McCann.

Portuguese police have played down reports that DNA evidence with a 100% match to Madeleine was found in the car.

Both parents deny vehemently any involvement in their daughter's disappearance.

Legal expenses

The McCanns have appointed lawyers in Portugal and Britain after being named as formal suspects in their daughter's disappearance - but they will not be paid out of money donated by well-wishers.

Speaking from the McCanns' home village of Rothley in Leicestershire, family spokesman David Hughes said: "They have decided not to seek to use those funds for their legal support."

He said: "Gerry and Kate's view is that if they take money from the fund it might be that 90% of people who made donations aren't bothered about it.

"But if 10% of people are bothered about it, they don't want to upset them."

So far donations totalling £1,036,104.17 have been received for Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned, according to the official campaign website.

The fund has four objectives, one of which is "to provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine's family".

Bail conditions

On Tuesday the Algarve-based prosecutor, Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses, handed over the papers on the case to a judge - a quick decision that took onlookers by surprise.

The judge has nine more days to consider the 1,000-page dossier and review the evidence involving the McCanns.

Portugal's attorney general said the police operation had not ended, and indicated bail conditions could be imposed on the suspects.

If they bring charges against Kate and Gerry that will give them a chance to clear their name Philomena McCann, Madeleine's aunt

A district prosecutor - Luis Bilro Verao - has also been appointed to oversee the investigation in addition to the local prosecutor in charge.

Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, said the handing over of the files to the judge could work to the McCanns' advantage.

She said: "If they bring charges against Kate and Gerry that will give them a chance to clear their name."

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, told the BBC on Wednesday that she wanted to see an end to the media speculation over the case.

'Full confidence'

The McCanns, both 39, returned to their home in Rothley in Leicestershire on Sunday.

Madeleine McCann was reported missing days before her birthday

No bail conditions have been imposed on the couple, but they can be recalled to Portugal with five days' notice.

Mr McCann described the events of the past week as an "unending nightmare".

In his blog, he said he and his wife had absolute confidence that when all the facts were presented they would be able to show that "we played no part in Madeleine's abduction".

Madeleine, who was three at the time she disappeared, was reported missing from the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May.