This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8062714.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
McCann probe 'interest' in Briton McCann probe 'interest' in Briton
(10 minutes later)
Investigators looking into Madeleine McCann's disappearance have identified a British paedophile as a "person of interest", a family spokesman said.Investigators looking into Madeleine McCann's disappearance have identified a British paedophile as a "person of interest", a family spokesman said.
Clarence Mitchell said he understood Raymond Hewlett, 64, was living within an hour of Praia de Luz, Portugal, where Madeleine disappeared in 2007. Clarence Mitchell said he understood Raymond Hewlett, 64, lived about an hour from Praia de Luz, Portugal, where the three-year-old disappeared in 2007.
"Hewlett is an individual of interest to the McCann investigation. I cannot go into operational detail," he added. "Hewlett is an individual of interest to the McCann investigation," he added.
But Mr Mitchell stressed this was just one of a number of lines of inquiry. But Mr Mitchell said this was just one of a number of lines of inquiry for the family from Rothley in Leicestershire.
Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she vanished from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007. Madeleine vanished from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007.
The Portuguese police have said they are no longer actively investigating the case but the McCanns are conducting a private investigation.The Portuguese police have said they are no longer actively investigating the case but the McCanns are conducting a private investigation.
Mr Mitchell said that Hewlett was now a person of interest to the investigation.
"I understand that he was living at a place near the Spanish border about an hour away from Praia de Luz at the time that Madeleine went missing.
"And as I say, without going into any detail, some newspapers are claiming that comments were made that led to potential interest in connection with the Madeleine case and, as a result, that is why the investigators are now looking at him.
"But I do stress this is one line of inquiry."