Madeleine case review identifies 'people of interest'

Madeleine McCann disappeared in Portugal six years ago. Credit: Family Handout

Scotland Yard detectives reviewing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have said they are encouraged by the progress they are making and have identified at least "a handful of people of interest" in connection with the case.

Madeleine went missing from an apartment in Praia de Luz, Portugal, in 2007 while her parents Kate and Gerry McCann were in a restaurant nearby.

ITV News reporter Sejal Karia reports:

Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the Kate and Gerry McCann, said: "Kate and Gerry remain very, very pleased with the work that Scotland Yard are doing and have been encouraged by Operation Grange from the day it began.

"Beyond that, they simply will not comment on what are police operational matters."

Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell, who led a Metropolitan Police review of the six-year-old case, retired today as head of Scotland Yard’s homicide and serious crime command.

Read: Madeleine McCann: A timeline of events

Speaking earlier this month, on the sixth anniversary of Madeleine McCann's disappearance, her parents Kate and Gerry, said they had not given up hope of finding their daughter.

Speaking on Daybreak, the couple said they have not lost hope that their daughter would be found and continue to campaign tirelessly for information on her whereabouts.

Gerry and Kate McCann speaking on Daybreak earlier this month. Credit: ITV Daybreak

They believe the involvement of the Metropolitan Police now meant the hunt for their daughter was escalating, rather than grinding to a halt.

Mrs McCann said: "The search is very much ongoing. Nothing is slowing down, if anything I feel it's escalating with the work of the Met.

"And again it's just be vigilant, please still take your posters on holiday and don't forget about her, she's still missing.

"We haven't lost hope, our hope isn't any less than it was after the first 24, 48 hours."

Watch the Gerry and Kate McCann interview on Daybreak here