Scotland Yard Detectives apply for more cash in £12million hunt for Madeleine McCann

Detectives involved in the hunt for Madeleine McCann have applied for more money to follow up with leads and carry on with their search for the missing tot.

This comes after a further £150,000 was granted last November, Maddie’s parents told of their delight at being given fresh hope.

A few days ago, a British barmaid was quizzed about her former boyfriend by cops hunting for Maddie McCann, Carol Hickman, 59, was asked about Michael Jehle, 51, who previously lived in Praia da Luz where three-year-old Maddie vanished in 2007.

Mr Jehle, who now lives in Bensafrim – 20 miles from where the Brit girl disappeared, said: “I don’t know about Maddie. Police know where I live.”

It has emerged that one of the 51-year-old’s other former girlfriends, who is also German, was quizzed by police in 2007. She reportedly had her freezer checked by investigators.

There is no suggestion that Mr. Jehle or his former partner are considered suspects.

Barmaid Carol works at Irish bar Kelly’s which is only a four minutes walk from where the three-year-old was last seen on May 3, 2007.

Application

On Thursday, Commissioner Cressida Dick confirmed the Metropolitan Police had applied for more Home Office funding.

She said: “We have active lines of inquiries and I think the public would expect us to see those through.