Portuguese police have decided that Madeleine McCann could not have been abducted, it was claimed yesterday.

They believe the youngster died in her family's rented holiday flat in Praia da Luz.

The newspaper Correio da Manha said a 50-page report, handed to prosecutors last week, reveals "new and strong doubts" about Gerry and Kate McCanns' claim that their daughter was snatched.

But police admit they have no evidence the couple were involved in Madeleine's disappearance.

The report describes the steps police took trying to find Madeleine, who was three when she vanished last year.

That included studying hundreds of holiday photographs, investigating dozens of sex offenders and searching more than 400 houses.

The final report makes no recommendations to the public prosecutor.