A man and a woman arrested in southern Spain are being investigated over an attempt to extort money from the family of Madeleine McCann. 

Four-year-old Madeleine

A senior Spanish police source said the man, who is Italian, and his Portuguese girlfriendare being questioned over an alleged approach to the McCanns to exchange information they claimed to have regarding Madeleine's whereabouts for cash.

Olegario de Sousa from the Portuguese police told Sky News his officers had joined the Spanish officers on the raid to arrest the couple, named as Danilo Chemello and Aurora Pereira Vaz, because of the extortion allegation, but had nothing to link them being held to Madeleine's kidnap.

However police say material was found at their villa that warranted further investigation of the extortion allegation.

Mr Chemello, 61, was initially picked up in the town of Sotogrande in Cadiz province on an international arrest warrant issued by French authorities before Madeleine vanished.

He has been convicted in France of mistreating his own child.

Madeleine disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in the seaside resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal on May 3.

Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, have remained in Portugal as they continue the search for their daughter.

A spokeswoman for the family said they were not commenting directly on the potential development.
"The Portuguese police and the McCanns are in constant contact," she said.

"They will be looking to the Portuguese police to advise them on any developments.

"They treat everything fairly and they look to the Portuguese as to what is given more weight and what is given less weight."
 
The couple said they would stay in Portugal until they are ready to return to Britain with the youngster.

They have been living in an apartment close to the holiday resort flat where Madeleine was snatched from her bed.

Brian Kennedy, Madeleine's Uncle, told Sky news: "Our hopes have been raised several times by reported sightings.

"We're trying not to get our hopes up too much because they so frequently get dashed.

"We've been cautioned to be careful not to read too much into reports but it shows people haven't forgotten about Madeleine even if the reports come to nothing.

"We don't want people to become tired of the story and they don't seem to be - everybody's been very kind and supportive."

There have been a host of reports of possible sightings of Madeleine, most recently in Malta.

The police there said they have received eight fresh reports in the past few days from people claiming to have seen the four-year-old, from Rothley, Leicestershire.

The reports follow a wave of possible sightings of girls matching Madeleine's description across the island.