So far police have kept details of their probe into the youngster’s disappearance last May secret.

 

Portuguese detectives have submitted the file to prosecutors and according to sources the case is set to be closed.

 

Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry, both 40, are convinced the dossiers could contain vital evidence of possible sightings that would help their private detectives find their missing child.

Today they are taking their local force, Leicester-shire Police who handled the British end of the inquiry, to the High Court to try to get the documents released.

The couple will not  appear in person at the open hearing in London before Mrs Justice Hogg.

GP Kate and heart consultant Gerry, of Rothley, Leics, are on their first holiday without Made-leine at a secret location.

 

They will find out it they have won their latest battle from their spokesman Clarence Mitchell. He will accompany the couple’s counsel Tim Scott QC to court. The couple hope their application will result in local police opening their files on dozens of reported sightings of Madeleine, who disappeared in May 2007 just before her fourth birthday.

She vanished from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while they dined with pals in a nearby tapas bar.

A legal source close to the couple said: “Kate and Gerry firmly believe that getting hold of information passed onto their county’s force will help in the search for their daughter.

“They feel it must be disclosed as a matter of urgency.

 

“They are fearful that some of the information has not been sufficiently acted upon.’’

 

Mr Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry will not be at the hearing.”

The couple have recently taken on a new team of British-based private investigators.

 

They are being paid from public donations to the Madeleine Fund.