A new book which includes a suggestion the parents of Madeleine McCann were responsible for their daughter's disappearance is "rubbish", according to the family's spokesman.

Clarence Mitchell has been responding to claims that a conspiracy was hatched by Gerry and Kate McCann before they set off on their fateful holiday in Praia da Luz.

The Portuguese book - with a translated title of The Guilt Of The McCanns - is said to allege that the couple had already decided that Madeleine would be reported as a kidnap victim.

Publicity from the publishers says it is a "non-fiction book entirely faithful to the events and the steps of the (police) investigation".

It has been written by Manuel Catarino, editor-in-chief of Correio da Manha, a racy Portuguese tabloid newspaper.

His book is said to be "not a finish line but a start point".

"This book is basically a journalistic work," say the publishers. "It doesn't point an accusatory finger to the McCanns."

Mr Mitchell dismisses the book - and its title: "You can imagine the pain and anguish that this sort of rubbish brings Kate and Gerry."

The couple's lawyers are said to be considering legal action.