A former detective who was part of the search for Madeleine McCann in 2007 believes German police have uncovered "important key evidence". Danie Krugel, a South African private detective who worked with the McCann family, believes the "evidence" is based on body language and the specific location of the search.

He told The Olive Press: "I'm so happy they've finally been searching in the right place and looking at their body language. I'm quite convinced they found something they were looking for. They only looked in three specific areas with 30 people brought in from Germany and it seemed they stopped suddenly early."

While neither Portuguese nor German police have issued any statement, local media reported that they found clothing and animal bones.

This discovery was made while searching at just three or four ruins, close to the Ocean Club resort, in Praia da Luz, where Madeleine went missing on May 3, 2007.

However, a source confirmed to the outlet that no announcements will be made for weeks, with "numerous bags of material" sent back to Germany for meticulous analysis.

Mr Krugel was brought in by Gerry McCann, Madeleine's dad, in June 2007. Flying in from South Africa, he conducted a series of tests using hairs from Madeleine.

He said: "Over four days and four nights, on eight separate readings, I pointed to the area where detectives have been searching close to Praia da Luz.

"They are in the right area. That's what I've said since the beginning, which was in 2007, that the signal was static, wherever she was, she was not moving.

"I used that as a centre point and what I explained to the police is to use a centre point and then you make the 360 turn bigger and bigger.

"I'm so excited the Germans are at the right spot. I'm very at ease that things will now go to an end. This is all I was waiting for. Justice for Madeleine. That's all I want."