'Last roll of the dice' for Madeleine McCann police probe

It's been nearly 10 years since Madeleine McCann went missing in the Algarve in Portugal without a trace. But detectives are said to be having a "last roll of the dice" after being tipped that Madeleine may have been taken by European traffickers.

It renews hope for Madeleine's doctor parents Kate and Gerry, both 48, from Rothley, Leicestershire, who've always believed their daughter still could be alive.

A source told The Sun: "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."

It is not known how much extra funding the Met has been given to extend the force's £12m ($15.28m) Operation Grange investigation.

A Belgian paedophile ring reportedly placed an order for a "young girl" just three days before Madeleine vanished from the Ocean Club apartment in Praia da Luz. Her parents were eating out with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant when the abduction took place.

Earlier this year, Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe announced the probe into her disappearance was coming to an end. There had been renewed hope after hairs were discovered from the McCann apartment, but no leads were established after three months of forensic testing.

A source told the Sunday Mirror: "There are no plans for any further forensic work to take place."

Last month, there was speculation a homeless girl in Rome could have been Madeleine. But a man quickly recognised her and told Swedish tabloid Expressen that the girl was his 21-year-old daughter who went missing in May.

Since Madeleine's disappearance on May 3, 2007, there has been reports of 8,685 potential sightings of her around the world, on top of the 1,338 statements taken and around 1,027 exhibits collected in connection with her abduction.

Her mother Kate has never given up hope in finding her daughter. Speaking to The Sun earlier this year, she is convinced she was not taken far away from their apartment. She said: "It's all only speculation, but we've learned that's usually the case."