Photo lead in Madeleine case

A photograph of a small blonde girl taken by a holiday maker in Morocco has been passed to experts working on the Madeleine McCann investigation.

The image which shows a light skinned, blonde haired girl being carried on an elderly Moroccan woman's back in a sling was taken just over three weeks ago in Zinat in northern Morocco by a Spanish woman.

Lawyers acting for Kate and Gerry McCann were passed a copy of the photograph and it is understood that computer experts are to analyse it to check if it could be Madeleine.

The photograph emerged after a series of other reports of possible sightings of Madeleine in Morocco were publicised in recent days.

But this is the first time that a photograph has come to light.

Gerry and Kate are understood to have seen the picture, which was received by their lawyers earlier.

It is now expected to be analysed by experts at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (Ceop).

Clarence Mitchell, the McCann's spokesman, said: "We do not comment on any individual sightings however in this case the picture was passed to the relevant authorities as soon as it was received and Gerry and Kate are obviously keen for it to be analysed as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile the couple have publicly denied sending private detectives into Portugual to investigate Madeleine's disappearance.

The denial comes after the couple were said to have hired specialists to continue the search for their daughter as long as four months ago amid fears that the Portuguese police had already begun to assume she was dead.

Madeleine went missing from her family's rented holiday apartment in Praia Da Luz on the night of May 3 while her parents were eating tapas in a restaurant nearby.

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