Madeleine McCann police bring in sniffer dogs to search new area near Praia da Luz

The area of land, which is just outside the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, was taped off at first light this morning

British girl Madeleine McCann, who was allegedy abducted 03 May 2007 from the resort apartment where she was on vacation with her family in the Algarve (Getty Images)

Sniffer dogs are being used to search a new site cordoned off by police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The area of land, which is just outside the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, was taped off at first light this morning.

Two sniffer dogs from South Wales Police were seen with their handlers inside the cordon and appeared to be concentrating on a small area which has been marked out with police tape inside.

A third officer could be seen with them examining notes.

Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in the resort in May 2007 while her parents Gerry and Kate dined with friends nearby.

The new search area is on the outskirts of the town, around 15 minutes walk from the Ocean Club resort where the McCann family were staying when the child went missing in May 2007, aged three.

Specialist teams spent last week scouring an area of land closer to the holiday apartment where they were staying.

The operation was extended after British police applied to the judiciary to spend an extra seven days in the resort but no work had been carried out previously this week due to a Portuguese national holiday.

Further officers arrived at the new site this morning and stood around having discussions and surveying the large area.

Further tape was marked out inside the square area within the cordon, appearing to highlight specific areas of interest to police.