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Margaret Carne, 73, who has assisted police in other cases, told UK detectives of her visions about the missing youngster.

She has met Madeleine’s doctor parents Kate and Gerry and their main benefactor Brian Kennedy – a double glazing multi-millionaire who helped finance the couple’s search for their daughter.

Metropolitan Police are hunting a woman dressed in purple seen lurking outside the McCanns’ Portuguese holiday apartment 90 minutes before then three-year-old Madeleine vanished in 2007.

(Image: SWNS/PA) (Image: GETTY)

She and her husband – a convicted paedophile who has since died – were working as domestic helpers in the area at the time.

They too had vanished following Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brit detectives have been unable to locate the wife despite extensive searches and reportedly travelled to Bulgaria in a bid to find her as they pursue their £12million investigation.

The Met’s Operation Grange team was recently awarded an extra £154,000 of taxpayers’ cash to continue searching for the woman for at least another six months in order to “eliminate her from inquiries,” a source said.

Mum-of-three Margaret, from Long Bennington, Notts, told the Daily Star she has been haunted by “visions” involving Madeleine since she disappeared from the Algarve.

She said: "I have a natural ability to sense, feel, see things.

"I know Madeleine is alive today."

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said Kate and Gerry, both 49 and from Rothley, Leics, were grateful for any help in finding their daughter.