Extensive search: Missing Madeleine McCann

Police involved in the search for Madeleine McCann have been granted £2million to continue their hunt for another year, it has emerged.

The investigation for the missing child, who would now be 12, has so far cost taxpayers more than £10million, it was revealed earlier this month.

The new figure was disclosed by Home Office minister Lord Bates in an answer to a written parliamentary question from Lord Black of Brentwood.

Funding will come from the Home Office's Special Grant budget, he said.

Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, said they are 'extremely grateful' for the allocation.

The Metropolitan Police took over the hunt in 2011 after Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry made a personal plea to David Cameron.

A task force of 37 Scotland Yard detectives spent two years trawling through documents, witness statements and other evidence relating to Madeleine's disappearance from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.

No arrests have been made in four years and the Met is facing calls to wind down the inquiry.

Earlier this month, John O'Connor, a former Flying Squad chief said: 'You can't keep chasing shadows, chasing sightings all over the world.

'It depends on whether the detectives are making any real progress. If there are no firm leads, and by that I mean no substantial operational things like active surveillance on suspects, then I'd have thought they should be considering winding it down now.

'Are there more recent cases that could be progressed with the right resources? It's about priorities.'

Last year, British police went to the Algarve a number of times to examine the scene and interviewed four local suspects and various witnesses. Pictured, British officers seen searching an area of scrubland

Last year, British police went to the Algarve a number of times to examine the scene and interviewed four local suspects and various witnesses.

They are said to have taken 67 return flights to Portugal at a cost of £16,000. The bulk of the cost of the operation comes from salaries, overtime and property expenses.

The Scotland Yard inquiry is running separately to a Portuguese probe into Madeleine's disappearance.

Lord Bates said the total cost of the investigation up until the end of June was £10.1million and the department has budgeted £2million for the coming year.

The minister said: 'The total cost of the investigation in to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (Operation Grange), up until end of June 2015, is £10.1m.

'The Home Office has budgeted £2m for the investigation in 2015/16. The Home Office funds this work from the Special Grant budget.

Scotland Yard officers (pictured in Portugal) are said to have taken 67 return flights to Portugal at a cost of £16,000. The bulk of the cost of the operation comes from salaries, overtime and property expenses

'The level of funding provided to the Metropolitan Police in relation to this investigation is reviewed regularly and will continue to be monitored.'

A spokesman for the McCanns told the Sun: 'Kate and Gerry remain extremely grateful to the police. They are pleased that funding is in place. They know the investigation cannot go on for ever.'

The Government set aside £5million for the Madeleine investigation, Operation Grange, but at the current rate of spending the bill will top £12million by next April.