Police in Spain were last night searching the holiday island of Majorca for Madeleine McCann after a British couple claimed to have seen her on a beach.

Detectives were scouring hotels and holiday apartments for two dark-haired women seen with a young blonde girl matching Madeleine's description.

A holidaying couple were convinced they saw the missing child with the two women at the Cala d'Or resort, in the south east of the island, last Sunday morning.

But they did not report the possible sighting to police for three days.

A police source said: 'Officers are searching hotels and holiday apartments to try to locate the young girl this couple saw.

'So far we have not been able to find her.

'The couple's account was detailed and there were no contradictions in their statements.

'However, we are aware of the numerous previous sightings all over the world that have turned out to be false and it could well be that the couple have made an honest mistake.

'The couple believe they saw the girl last Sunday.

'At first they attempted to try to contact the McCanns through the internet.

'They reported the incident to us on Wednesday after seeing a missing persons poster with Madeleine's photograph on it.'

The British couple, who are in their 50s, were on a two-week First Choice holiday at the Hotel Cala D'Or Playa and had arrived on September 11.

They were enjoying a morning at Cala Gran beach when they spotted a pale blonde girl under a parasol.

The couple were suspicious because the two women she was with had dark hair and did not look like they were related to the girl.

The toddler was colouring in a book on her own and was wearing sunglasses.

 

A member of staff at the hotel said: 'The woman was quite upset because she was so convinced it was Madeleine.

'They first saw the girl with the two women on the beach last Sunday morning.

'The girl was on her own under a parasol on the beach with a colouring book, which struck the couple as odd.

'They noticed her similarity to Madeleine and tried to get closer, but because of the sunglasses and they couldn't see if she had Madeleine's distinctive eye.

'The woman is very religious and was praying a lot because she did not know what to do.

'She saw the two women with the girl again later in the week, and the girl was trying to drag them down to the beach, although it was dark, which she again found odd.

'On Wednesday she came to the hotel staff to report the incident after seeing a photograph on a Find Madeleine poster in a newspaper and being convinced it was her.

'One of the staff members took her to the police and acted as a translator while the couple gave their statement.'

The couple flew back to Manchester on a Thomson flight on Thursday morning.

Police have been to hotels and holiday apartments in Cala d'Or and nearby Cala Egos and Cala Ferrera.

A member of staff at the Melia Cala d'Or hotel said: 'The police called three days ago with a description of two women and a little girl they were looking for in the Madeleine case.

'They said the two women were aged 40 to 50 and both had short, dark hair. At least one of the women had red streaks in her hair.

'They are speaking to staff at all the hotels in the area.

'A British couple said they saw the women with a young blonde girl they believed was Madeleine McCann.

'Unfortunately we were unable to help. If it is Madeleine, I pray she is found safe and well.'

Madeleine was days short of her fourth birthday when she disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in southern Portugal in May 2007.

Her parents Kate and Gerry, both 41-year-old doctors from Rothley, Leics, were named as formal suspects in the case but later cleared of any involvement.

The couple have been made aware of the potential sighting.

Spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: 'Kate and Gerry and the investigative team are aware of this development and will be liaising with the local authorities as they have done with every potential sighting.'

Private detectives from Spanish firm Metodo 3 may travel to Majorca to investigate the sighting.

The Barcelona-based firm was being paid ?50,000-a-month to lead the McCanns' hunt for their daughter until their involvement in the case was scaled down last year.

British firm Oakley International took over the search, funded by the McCanns' millionaire friend Brian Kennedy.

But Metodo 3 have continued to work with the McCanns in a more minor role.

Mr Mitchell said: 'Metodo 3 may well get involved given their local expertise and knowledge in Spain.'