McCanns viewing police case files

Madeleine has been missing for over a year

Lawyers acting for the parents of Madeleine McCann have started examining Portuguese police files on the investigation, their spokesman says.

Kate and Gerry McCann were told they could begin to study some 20,000 pages filed by police in Portimao.

The couple, both 39, of Rothley, Leics, hope information within them could help their own private investigators.

Madeleine disappeared, aged three, on a holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May 2007.

'Important step'

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the examination of the files was "an important step forward" in the search for Madeleine.

He said: "Kate and Gerry have long wanted to know what was in the police files and what was and wasn't done in terms of the search for their daughter.

"They will be taking their time, along with lawyers, to assess the thousands of pages of information in detail before they make any comment."

Any critical information will go to detectives to act on, he added.

The lawyers are also assessing whether files would support legal action against police over the way they conducted the inquiry.

The police inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance was wound up because of a lack of evidence earlier this month.

Police also announced that the McCanns and a third British national, Robert Murat, were no longer formal suspects when they closed the case.

The McCanns and Mr Murat, 34, all strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine.