Detectives investigating the Madeleine McCann case in Portugal have discovered samples of “clothes & bones” at the site and sent the samples to the lab for analysis.

The search in Praia da Luz was labelled a disappointment after police appeared to leave the site empty-handed last week.

However, officers are understood to have found new potential evidence during the extensive search.

The samples have now been sent to Germany for testing amid hopes they could finally reveal the forensic link officers are missing on the case.

Detectives investigating the Madeleine McCann case

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Digger at the site of the Madeleine McCann search last week

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Police thoroughly scanning new Madeleine McCann search area

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A source told local media in Germany: “Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory.

“As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things.

“The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine’s disappearance but that is clearly their hope.”

Apartment 5A in Praia Da Luz in Portugal, where Madeleine McCann went missingPA

Officers conducted a fingertip search around the perimeter of a large farmhouse on ThursdayPA

Forensics and police at the scene where Christian Bruckner is believed to have spent time

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Portuguese and German officers packed up their equipment at 5pm on Thursday after scouring the area between the resort and a cottage where the suspect, Christian Brueckner, lived at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007.

The operation deployed 60 police officers alongside heavy machinery, including JCB-style diggers and ground-penetrating radar devices capable of mapping underground terrain to approximately 33 feet deep.

Teams cleared shrub from abandoned villas and derelict farmhouses across 20 plots of private land in the Atalaia region, less than a mile from Brueckner’s former residence.

Brueckner is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought.

Following the search, police gathered for a huddle where beer was passed around

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Searchers stood in a circle and were seen celebrating the end of the latest search

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In October last year, he was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

British officers have not been present at the latest searches, the Metropolitan Police said.

Madeleine’s parents have not commented during the “active police investigation”, staff at the Find Madeleine Campaign said.

On the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, Kate and Gerry McCann released a statement of sadness.

The parents wrote: “No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day,” alongside a picture of Madeleine.