Police have resumed their search of scrubland in Portugal close to where Madeleine McCann went missing seven years ago.

It comes after officers began digging and brought sniffer dogs into the area in Praia Da Luz, which is a five-minute walk from the apartment where the then three-year-old disappeared.

It is understood they have been given permission to search two other sites.

A map of the search area

Teams have been mapping the area over the last 24 hours and Portuguese workmen had been clearing some of the undergrowth ahead of the search operation.

The hot and predominantly dry climate on the Algarve, where temperatures regularly top 30C, mean the ground will be far drier than in northern Europe.

The site has been cordoned off and sections of it divided up with blue and white police tape.

Three police tents have been set up, but they are thought to be where the teams are storing equipment and taking breaks rather than covering significant parts of the scrubland.

Sky sources understand a team of specialist forensic archaeologists are also working on the site.

Scotland Yard has said it will not provide a "running commentary" on the search operation.