SCOTLAND Yard has been given more money to probe an “important” new lead in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The development is being taken so seriously that senior Whitehall officials have been briefed by the Met on its progress.

10 Scotland Yard are being given more money to probe new lead in Madeleine McCann's disappearance Credit: PA:Press Association

Detectives are following a tip that a gang of European traffickers snatched the tot after taking pictures of her.

It could end up proving that she is still alive, nearly ten years after she vanished.

The search for Madeleine has been extended by months after Scotland Yard was given more cash.

But senior cops admit the investigation of the new lead is the “last throw of the dice” in their hunt.

10 Madeleine was holidaying with parents Gerry and Kate McCann and younger siblings in 2007 when she disappeared in the night Credit: Reuters

The Met is taking the development so seriously that leading Whitehall officials are being briefed on its progress.

A source said: “This is an important new line of inquiry which could provide an explanation on whether Madeleine was abducted and transported away.

“It raises hope that she could still be alive.”

Retired Yard detective Colin Sutton said the extra money for the last line of inquiry means “there must be something worthwhile”.

10 Detectives are investigating tip-off that Madeleine was taken by child traffickers Credit: PA:Press Association

A focus of the inquiry is whether Madeleine, who vanished just days before her fourth birthday in May 2007, was abducted by traffickers.

One witness has claimed the youngster was photographed on the beach with her parents in the days leading up to her disappearance.

Madeleine was on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, in Portugal’s Algarve.

The last-ditch move to discover her fate comes eight months after Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe predicted the force’s £12million Operation Grange probe was coming to an end.

10 The view from the apartment above the room that Madeline McCann was in when she went missing Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

He had said that it was likely to conclude within a few months after a final matter was checked out.

Grange’s extension offers renewed hope for Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry, both 48, from Rothley, Leics.

The couple also believe their daughter, who would now be 13, could have been kidnapped and sold by traffickers.

They have researched human trafficking comprehensively since Madeleine vanished and Kate has met representatives from several charities who help victims.

Reports following Madeleine’s disappearance suggested she could have been taken to Belgium or Morocco in North Africa.

10 A poster released three years after Madeleine McCann's disappearance, with a picture of what she may have looked like by 2010 Credit: Madeleine McCann Handout

She vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment while her parents ate a tapas meal nearby with friends.

The source said: “There is specific information which is being investigated.

“The team is trying to confirm or disprove it and will exhaust every possible avenue of information, as they always promised Mr and Mrs McCann they would.’’

The source said: “The Home Office has agreed to continue funding the police work until it is completed.

“At present, funding is due to run out next April when it will be reviewed again.”

10 A man seen by a friend of the McCann near the resort was later ruled out as an innocent Brit carrying his daughter Credit: Metropolitan Police

The child trafficking theory was first raised by private investigators working for the McCanns in late 2007.

They believed there could have been gang “spotters” working in the Portuguese resort.

There were reports of a man with binoculars looking at children on the beach and of men taking photos of kids.

The McCanns believe the pictures may have been shown to traffickers who then selected Madeleine.

The theory was given further credence by Scotland Yard who provided information about a Belgian paedophile ring to the Portuguese authorities in March 2008.

10 There were reports of a man with binoculars looking at children on the beach near the resort Credit: PA:Press Association

The Met’s clubs and vice unit received a tip that the ring had placed an order for a “young girl” just three days before Madeleine went missing.

Leicestershire Police, who at that point led the Operation Task effort to help find Madeleine, were also informed.

A friend of the McCanns said: “Trafficking into Belgium and North Africa has always formed a very strong part of the investigation.

“There is definitive hard evidence that this is happening and they have looked into the fact someone was targeting children and may well have been stealing to order.”

10 Kate and Gerry McCann walk with their twins Sean and Amelie Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

In 2011, police in Portugal smashed a trafficking ring snatching young women and underage girls in the Algarve and Aveiro, in the north of the country.

Anti-child trafficking charity ECPAT International said Portugal was “attractive to traffickers” because of the ease in which children can be driven through borders.

10 Kate and Gerry McCann released a plea to then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010 when the Portuguese police shut down the enquiry Credit: DPA

Police have carried out excavations in Praia da Luz looking for Madeleine’s remains.

But they have always thought there was a possibility she was taken further afield, possibly by traffickers, a predatory paedophile or someone who wanted to raise her as their child.

The Grange investigation was launched in May 2011.

10 In April the Home Office gave an additional £95,000 to he probe, and have apparently done the same now Credit: Getty Images

It followed a personal plea from Kate to then Prime Minister David Cameron after the Portuguese closed down their inquiry.

In October last year the Met probe was dramatically scaled down.

The Home Office granted the inquiry another £95,000 in April to continue for a further six months.

Sources say that has now been matched with a similar sum.

A family source said: “Kate and Gerry will not comment on any part of Operation Grange.”

The Met Police also declined to comment.

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