Madeleine McCann was seen in a car two days after her disappearance from a Portuguese holiday resort, a Spanish private detective has said. Francisco Marco said the sighting was north of Praia da Luz, the resort where the McCann family was staying.  'Very close' Mr Marco, whose agency Metodo 3 is investigating the case on behalf of the McCanns, said a witness saw Madeleine in a car, on a small road, being handed over to another person. He said he believed the witness was reliable. "We are very close. I am not saying maybe, no no no... we are very very close to finding the kidnappers."

Detectives are closing in on the secret hideaway where they are convinced Madeleine McCann is being held. The Daily Express can reveal that the private investigators are concentrating their search on a remote region in the north of Morocco. A highly placed source close to the team said last night: "We are confident we are near to finding Madeleine alive _ we're on our way to get her." The agents are combing villages in the Rif Mountains for the four-year-old, who disappeared six months ago.