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Kate McCann has said she is "really encouraged" by the progress being made in the case of her missing daughter Madeleine.

Kate said she couldn't reveal details of the investigation but said there had been "a lot" of progress in the last six months.

Madeleine McCann was three when she went missing eight years ago from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal's Algarve.

Portuguese police closed their investigation in 2008 but the Metropolitan police launched their own inquiry three years later.

Kate said told Good Morning Britain: "Well obviously I can’t give any investigation details out but let’s just say we’re really encouraged.

"There has been a lot of progress in the last six months plus, last year.

"The co-operation between the UK and the Portuguese seems to be really good which is really positive for us and I can say there is progress being made.”

She was speaking from York where she is currently leading a 500-mile bike ride to raise £10,000 for a missing persons charity.

Speaking about the bike ride, Kate said: “I think it’s hard to resist a challenge when the cause is something that’s just so close to your heart.

"It’s inevitable I will be thinking of Madeleine and I think particularly when it gets tough, there will be the times when I’ll be saying ‘I’m doing this for Madeleine, I’m doing this for all missing children.”

(Image: PA)

Kate is leading 20 cyclists on the bike ride which started at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh's landmark hill, on Saturday.

They are travelling through Newcastle, York, Nottingham and Northampton before finishing at the Tower of London on June 17.

To donate to Kate McCann's Cycle Challenge visit www.justgiving.com/KateMcCann/