New suspect identified in Madeleine McCann search - reports

Investigators probing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal have identified a British paedophile as a possible suspect, British media and a spokesman for the girl's parents said.

Raymond Hewlett, 64, was reportedly living near the resort of Praia da Luz when three-year-old Madeleine went missing in May 2007, The Daily Mail said. A spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann, who launched a global media search for their daughter, confirmed in a statement that Hewlett was "of interest" to British investigators working for the couple.

"We are aware of Raymond Hewlett and the claims that have been made about him in some newspapers," spokesman Clarence Mitchell said.

"The investigators searching for Madeleine are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding these claims.

"Mr Hewlett is an individual of interest to the Madeleine investigation but I would stress it is just one line of inquiry.

"Beyond that I can't really go into any further operational detail."