Hunt for Madeleine McCann could end this week with £12million search fund set to run dry
THE £12million hunt for Madeleine McCann could come to an end this week.
Funding for Operation Grange — the search being led by the Metropolitan Police — is set to run out as early as Saturday.
Maddie's family are continuing a tense wait to find out if police will be granted more Government cash to continue the search.
She vanished from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.
Scotland Yard has requested an undisclosed sum from the Home Office "to pursue a final line of inquiry", but a further funding pledge is yet to be announced.
A statement on the future of the investigation is expected this week.
Mum and dad Kate and Gerry, both 49, from Rothley, Leics, have vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter.
A family spokesman said earlier this month: "Naturally, Kate and Gerry hope the Met request is granted.
"They are encouraged that there remains work to be done that requires extra funding and they remain very grateful to all Operation Grange officers who are continuing to look for their daughter."
In March, the Home Office granted officers £85,000 to cover "operational costs" to continue with the investigation, between April and September this year.
MISSING MADDIE What age would Madeleine McCann be now and what might she look like now?
A Scotland Yard spokesman has said: "Funding is in place until the end of September. Any details about future funding will be released when appropriate."
The Home Office said: "The application for funding will be considered. They have needed to justify what the money would be spent on."
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