The £12million police investigation into Madeleine McCann ’s disappearance could be abandoned as Government funding runs out.
Last year the Home Office provided £150,000 to allow four detectives to carry on working Operation Grange for another six months.
However this money was due to run out on Sunday and it is believed an agreement on future funding has not yet been reached.
Detectives working on the case are understood to have no ‘earth-shattering leads’ and rarely visit the Portuguese resort where she vanished in 2007.
The Home Office has confirmed it received a request to extend funding for Operation Grange and says talks with the Met are ongoing.
A source reportedly said: “Most of what Operation Grange is doing is having things set up to knock down and rule out, rather than pursuing a particular fantastic lead that could unlock it all.
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“I’m not aware of any earth-shattering lead or breakthrough imminently.”
The focus of the investigation is now said to have shifted to Eastern Europe following a theory that Madeleine was snatched by child traffickers.
Detectives made just two trips to Portugal in 2017-18, which involved five return flights costing £1,240.
British police have previously stayed at the upmarket Estrela da Luz hotel but a bar manager there said: “I haven’t seen any police here for nearly a year, probably last May.”
Portuguese police shelved their investigation in 2008 prompting Scotland Yard to launch its own inquiry in 2011.
Operation Grange has so far cost £11.75million, including more than £10million on salaries, over £440,000 on overtime and about £287,000 on travel costs.
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Madeleine was three when she vanished from the family’s holiday apartment while her parents, Gerry and Kate, of Rothley, Leicestershire, dined with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.
Her disappearance sparked a huge global search for the youngster.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the Met had asked for a further £300,000, which would have ring fenced the investigation until March 2020.
But no announcement has yet been made on whether the request will be granted by Home Office officials.
A source close to the investigation said the decision will focus on whether any significant leads are still active.
They added: “The bottom line is they need to be able to present an argument that suggests they still have stuff to do.”
The inquiry is being led by Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall who is in charge of one DS and three DCs.
A Met police spokesman said: “The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains ongoing.”
