Madeleine McCann: Police handed more cash to continue search for missing child

More than £11m has been spent so far trying to find out what happened over a decade ago

Detectives have been granted more money to continue the search for Madeleine McCann, nearing 11 years since her disappearance while on holiday with her family in Portugal.

So far more than £11m has been spent on the UK’s investigation, named Operation Grange.

Government funding has been agreed every six months, with £154,000 being granted from October last year until the end of March.

It is thought the latest round of funding will be as much as £150,000, according to the Daily Mail.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The government remains committed to the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

“We have briefed the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) that its application for Special Grant funding for Operation Grange will be granted.”

Family spokesperson Clarence Mitchell said that Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann were “incredibly grateful” for the additional money.

He said: “They are very encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done and they are incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation.”

Madeleine vanished from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.

Mr and Ms McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed never to give up trying to find their daughter.

In 2011 the Met Police launched its own investigation into what had happened to the child.

Agencies contributed to this report