Madeleine McCann search brings about 'relevant clue' which may take months to be analysed

The Madeleine McCann search brings about a 'relevant clue' which may take months to be analysed.

German police conducted their official major search of a remote reservoir in the Algarve on Tuesday (23 May).

Authorities allegedly received a 'very credible' tip-off regarding the search at Barragem do Arade reservoir, located near the town of Silves - a spot prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, used to frequently visit.

Collect / Handout / Alamy Stock Photo

The fresh McCann search was originally set to last for at least two days, but officials disclosed it could have continued longer if anything of any importance was discovered.

Since the search commenced, police have removed a number of bags from the man-made dam, while investigators continued their search for any sign of the missing British girl, who disappeared at just three years old back in May 2007.

Police photographed the excavation site near the banks of a remote reservoir in Portugal as the McCann search entered its third day.

The three-day search has since come to an end as ‘material’ is sent for inspection and Portugal’s national police agency issued a statement on the matter yesterday (25 May).

The official statement said the 'collected material' from the scene will be delivered to the German authorities for further inspection.

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It is not yet clear what the 'material' collected consists of.

Portuguese newspaper, Correio da Manha, reported a 'relevant clue' had been discovered during the last part of the search yesterday.

The outlet reported several items including a bra strap, items of clothing and plastic items were removed from the site.

However, such items have not yet been confirmed as whether they do or don't have any relevance to the case.

The digging operation first commenced Wednesday afternoon (24 May) which saw heavy machinery cut through vast undergrowth at the site, while a mixture of uniformed and plain-clothed officers raked the ground located around 30 miles from where McCann first went missing in Praia de Luz in 2007.

Officers used shovels to excavate the area alongside sniffer dogs and pickaxes which have also been deployed over the course of the searches.

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Large holes were dug to collect soil samples which have since been sent for DNA and forensic testing in Germany.

But, McCann's parents could face quite a wait as, although initial results from the tests are expected next week, it will take months for a full analysis.

Investigators previously announced they believed McCann was 'alive for two or three days' after she was taken.

The operation was being carried out at the request of German investigators who believed their prime suspect - convicted sex offender Brueckner, 45 - kidnapped and murdered the youngster.

He is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017.