Police in Portugal have been accused of ignoring potential sightings of Madeleine McCann.

Sky News reports members of the public have attempted to pass on information relating to the disappearance of the British girl, but Portuguese officers are failing to take action claiming their investigation is now closed.

The Portuguese investigation was shut down last summer after it was claimed there was insufficient evidence to continue looking for Madeleine.

Her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, have since launched their own private investigation and a series of potential suspects have been announced to the media as they continue to search for their daughter.

Sky claims four possible sightings were presented to officers near the area where Madeleine went missing in May 2007 but were not followed up.

The McCanns' official spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the broadcaster private investigators were hoping to speak to Raymond Hewlett, a convicted paedophile named as a potential suspect last week, later today.
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