The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have been offered fresh hope after police asked for more funds to keep the investigation alive.

More than £11 million has been spent on the probe to find the missing girl, who vanished from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.

With funding for the investigation, known as Operation Grange, in place until the end of September, the Metropolitan Police have requested more money from the Government.

The Home Office confirmed the application will be considered.