EON

London – Detectives searching for Madeleine McCann have called off their summer holidays to continue their hunt.

Several members of the investigating team, in particular those leading the inquiry, were due to go on holiday soon.

But they feared the search would suffer if they left the case for several weeks and have now put their plans on hold for the foreseeable future.

The inquiry is still concentrating on the area in and around Praia de Luz where the four-year-old was last seen on May 3.

Police and Madeleine’s parents, Gerry and Kate, still believe she is being held in Portugal.

It is understood detectives believe a group of people were involved in the abduction and arrests may be imminent.

Officers are keeping Madeleine’s parents up-to-date with each development, and the McCanns say they have every confidence in the Portuguese inquiry.

“We have a great working relationship with the police. Our determination to find Madeleine is matched by theirs,” said Gerry.

Meanwhile, the McCann family are keeping a low profile after their move into a more permanent flat near to the holiday resort where Madeleine went missing.

They attended church at the weekend but have yet to reveal details for a new publicity push they are planning.

Writing in his blog, Gerry said he was glad to hear three-year-old British girl Margaret Hill had been freed unharmed in Nigeria.

He also said he had been heartened by an event in Porto, in the north of Portugal, to remember missing children.

He wrote: “It was at a large school’s end of year musical and the children and staff released balloons.

“It is good that local communities are staging events like this and we thank them for remembering Madeleine.”