Portugal's Attorney-General, Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, has announced that the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been shelved - even though there's still no trace of the missing child.

However, the child's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann are "no longer formal suspects"and a third British national, Robert Murat, has also been cleared by the Portuguese authorities.

This is the latest twist in a case that has gripped the world since the young girl vanished on May 3 last year.

For more than 14 months after the child went missing, Mr and Mrs McCann, both 40, from Rothley, Leicestershire, had 'arguidos' status, and were formal suspects, in the case.

Althought the police files have been shelved, they will be reviewed and reopened if new evidence emerges.

Meanwhile, the McCanns want their own private investigators given access to detectives' papers so they can continue searching for their daughter.

The McCann's spokesman Clarence Mitchell said after today's formal announcement that "it's far too early to give their immediate reaction yet" but "they are, of course, liaising closely with their lawyers in Portugal and Britain".

British police travelled to Portugal last week for discussions on how evidence could be disclosed at the end of the investigation.

Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz as her parents dined nearby.

(DS)