Detectives searching for Madeleine McCann want to identify a man they say is of "vital importance".

They've produced two e-fit pictures of what they think is the same man.

Two seperate witnesses spotted him on the night Madeleine went missing from the Portuguese town in 2007.

A fresh TV appeal's being broadcast on BBC Crimewatch, and across Europe tonight, where Madeleine's mum Kate says her parenting skills are not on trial:

The witnesses have described the man in the e-fit as being white, aged between 20 and 40 years old, with short brown hair, of medium build, medium height and clean shaven.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the senior investigating officer, said: "Whilst this man may or may not be the key to unlocking this investigation, tracing and speaking to him is of vital importance to us.

"We have witnesses placing him in the resort area around the time of Madeleine's disappearance.

"This is far from our only line of inquiry and there will be e-fits released of other sightings as well, who we are equally keen to trace. These people were seen on the day of Madeleine's disappearance and the days leading up to it."

He added that detectives have been able to "make massive steps forward" by drawing together all the material gathered to date and reviewing it as a whole.

"We continue to put Madeleine at the heart of our investigation and I would urge people to watch Crimewatch tonight and if you can help identify this man or have any information about our new appeal points please contact us," he said.

How Madeleine McCann might look like today

"Praia da Luz is a popular holiday destination for many nationalities so our requests for help need to be repeated in many different countries. I will be travelling to Holland, Germany and Ireland to seek the support of the public there.

"If you were in and around the Praia da Luz resort on Thursday 3 May, 2007, but you have not yet spoken to police, and you think you may have information, please pass it on.

"I would also like to ask for the help of the local community in Praia da Luz. Portugal is a key country for us to trace any outstanding witnesses and our appeals will be repeated there.

"We still have a lot of material to investigate and much work to do. Your information could be the vital piece we need to finally answer what happened to Madeleine."

Former Scotland Yard Detective Peter Bleksley says police will keep up the pressure to find out what happened: