Madeleine McCann was three-years-old when she disappeared from her bed in a holiday apartment in Portugal in May 2007.
Since then, Kate and Gerry McCann have campaigned tirelessly for information as to their child’s whereabouts.
But, tragically, they are still no closer to finding out where Madeleine is - or what happened that fateful night in Praia Da Luz.
However, in a new interview, police officers have revealed that there is a chance that Maddy could be found alive - nine years after her disappearance.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Duthie, the head of Scotland Yard’s homicide squad told the Evening Standard: “There is ongoing work. There is always a possibility that we will find Madeleine and we hope that we will find her alive.
“That’s what we want and that’s what the family and the public want and that is why the Home Office continue to fund it.”
He added: “There is work that needs to be done still.”
It was recently revealed that Scotland Yard had been given more money to help with the Find Maddy investigation - but the funds came with a time frame.
They now look set to close the investigation in six months, whether or not they manage to track down the little girl.
Operation Grange will now continue until early October, until the extra £94,592 runs out.
Once the money is gone, Scotland Yard will have to end the five-year inquiry, which has cost £12 million already.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Following a request from the Metropolitan Police Service, we have agreed to provide nearly £95,000 of further funding for Operation Grange.”
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “The inquiry has not reached a conclusion. There are still focused lines of investigation to be pursued.
“There are no immediate plans to reduce office numbers further at this time.”
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