Portuguese air force helicopter used in Madeleine probe

In the latest stage of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, police today commissioned a Portuguese air force helicopter to fly low over Praia da Luz taking photographs of areas of interest to the inquiry.

An Alouette helicopter was seen flying above the beach and other areas close to where Madeleine disappeared in May 2007.

It comes as work is planned to search the area around the holiday apartment the family were staying in.

Ground-penetrating radar is expected to be used to assess certain areas, including a road that had been dug up at the time 3-year-old Madeleine vanished.

British detectives are currently in the Algarve and this morning met with counterparts from the Policia Judiciaria.

Neither country's officers would offer a view on how the almost four-hour meeting went.