Gerry McCann: We must keep on searching for Maddy

GERRY McCANN has returned to Portugal for the first time in 16 months to check on the search for his missing daughter Madeleine, it was revealed today.

Mr McCann, 40, met officials to discuss what steps they are taking to find the girl.

He said: "We think there is still a very good chance Maddy could be found alive and well, and that's why we want the search to continue.

"We want to stress our desire to continue to work with the authorities as much as possible."

Madeleine was a few days short of her fourth birthday when she disappeared during a family holiday at the seaside resort of Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007.

Mr McCann and his wife Kate were named formal suspects in the investigation in September 2007 but in July last year they were cleared by Portugal's attorney general of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance.

Mr McCann was met in the Algarve by officials from the British Embassy yesterday and then flew to the capital Lisbon for a meeting with the Portuguese authorities. He also met lawyer Rogerio Alves "to explore steps that have yet to be taken and that could make a difference".

The cardiologist, from Rothley near Leicester, said it was important "not to duplicate steps that have already been taken and not to waste resources".

In an interview with Portuguese press agency Lusa, he added: "It is the first visit to Portugal, but I hope it's the first of many over the coming months. The aim is to see what can still be done in the search for Maddy." British police continue to receive "information from different sources," he said.

He added: "Like all parents of missing children, we want all the information to be investigated."

Mr McCann, who was returning to the UK today, said he and his wife had no intention of launching legal proceedings against Portugal's authorities or media.

He said: "I want to make it clear that what happened in the past stays there, and we really want to focus on what can be done to continue the search. That is our priority and always has been."

There have been false sightings of Madeleine in Morocco, Belgium, Croatia, Venezuela and Chile.

But despite a 14-month £2.5 million police investigation detectives are no closer to solving the mystery.

A team of ex-police and former members of the security services are reported to be in Portugal leading a new hunt for any clues.