BRITISH police probing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have reportedly cordoned off an area in Portugal before they begin digging.
Police have cordoned off an area in Portugal near to where Madeleine McCann disappeared[PA]Detectives have flown to Praia da Luz where Maddie, three, vanished seven years ago in a new search for clues.
Officers have identified a number of potential search sites near to where she went missing while on holiday with her family in 2007.
The trail has lead investigators to scrubland close to the apartment where the McCanns had been staying at the time, according to reports.
The site was previously an open area but is now scheduled for development.
The area sealed off by Portuguese cops is scheduled for development [EXCLUSIVEPIX]
Police have cordoned off an area in Praia da Luz [BBC]Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann are not believed to have travelled to Portugal as part of the new investigations.
During the latest round of searches in Portugal, Officers will use radar penetration equipment to look for signs of soil disturbance while mechanical diggers will carry out full excavations.
Trained sniffer dogs will also be used to search for human remains. The main target is a fenced-off wasteland area the size of three football pitches 100 yards from the Ocean Club apartment where her family was staying.
There were plans to build a new Irish-backed holiday hotel complex on the vacant site until the project was shelved after the economy in Ireland collapsed.
Three separate search warrants have been submitted to Portuguese Attorney-General’s office.
Portuguese police near the scrubland in Praia da Luz [STEVE REIGATE]The new search operation, which could last up to a week, was instigated by Prime Minister David Cameron after Portuguese police failed to find Madeleine.
She went missing on May 3, 2007, while her parents were having dinner with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the operation. But last month, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said there would be a “substantial phase of activity involving Portuguese police with British police in support”.
The Scotland Yard team also intends to interview eight Portuguese nationals. The costs of the work will be met by Scotland Yard.
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