Madeleine McCann's parents will fly to Portugal today for the start of a libel trial against former Portuguese policeman Goncalo Amaral.

Kate and Gerry McCann are planning to attend the opening of the trial in Lisbon on Friday.

Their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: ‘I can confirm that Kate and Gerry McCann will be travelling to Portugal on Thursday to attend the opening of the defamation case against Goncalo Amaral in Lisbon on Friday morning.

Kate and Gerry McCann are flying to Portugal tomorrow for the opening of the trial

‘They only intend to appear at the opening and I would expect that they will return to the UK fairly swiftly.’

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal on May 3, 2007, while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Despite a massive police investigation and huge publicity worldwide, Madeleine would now be aged six, has not been found.

Mr Amaral was involved in the initial investigation to find Madeleine but was later taken off the case.

Madeleine McCann: Before she went missing in 2007 aged three and, right, a digital image of how she would potentially look today, aged six

In his book, The Truth Of The Lie, he claimed Madeleine was dead and questioned the McCanns' account that she was taken while they were eating with friends.

In September a Portuguese judge granted an injunction banning further sale or publication of the book.

It also banned Mr Amaral from repeating his claims about Madeleine or her parents.

The injunction came after a year-long campaign by the McCanns' lawyers to prevent the publication of the book and a subsequent DVD.

Speaking after it was granted, Gerry McCann said false allegations had done immense damage to the search for their daughter because Portuguese people would be dissuaded from coming forward with information.

Libel trial: Goncalo Amaral was involved in the initial search for Madeleine

At the time he said: ‘There's a lot of people in Portugal, who might have evidence, that believe Madeleine is dead.

‘If people believe that, they won't search for her and they won't come forward with information.

‘I know for a fact people have been told Madeleine is dead. There is no evidence to support that and that is unforgivable.’

At one point Portuguese police made Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, Leicester, 'arguidos', or formal suspects, in their daughter's disappearance.

They were questioned by detectives but their status was later lifted. Since then they have continued to campaign to find their daughter.