Madeleine McCann cops to get huge cash boost in sign of potential new ‘leads’ in hunt for missing toddler
DETECTIVES searching for Madeleine McCann are set to get a £100,000 grant to continue their investigation, it is reported.
The toddler was just three when she vanished in May 2007 while on holiday in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz.
The request to the Home Office was made in the last few days as the £110,000 Operation Grange budget for 2023-24 was due to run out at the end of March.
A source close to Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann told the latest cash boost was "very welcome news".
They added: "The police obviously have leads if a request for funding has been made.
"Kate and Gerry have never given up hope and nor will they, finding Madeleine or what happened to her is paramount to them."
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A Home Office spokesperson said: "Funding for Operation Grange is approved on an annual basis.
"Funding for 2023-2024 will run until 31st March and decisions on 2024-2025 will be made in the next financial year in line with usual practice."
Maddie disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Rua Dr Agostinho da Silva, in the Algarve region on the night of on May 3, 2007.
Despite a 17-year search police never found any evidence of her.
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Operation Grange has cost taxpayers more than £13million since it was launched 13 years ago by then Home Secretary Theresa May on the advice of Prime Minister David Cameron.