Car drove towards apartment of Madeleine McCann the night she went missing, resident claims

Missing : A photo of Madeleine as the tenth anniversary of her disappearance approaches
PA

A resident of Praia da Luz has described seeing a car driving towards the apartment of Madeleine McCann the night she went missing.

Jenny Murat, who lives 100 yards from the Ocean Club complex in the Algarve village where the McCanns were staying, spoke about the sighting for the first time today on the 10th anniversary of her disappearance.

Madeleine was three when she vanished from Praia da Luz at about 9pm exactly 10 years ago on May 3, 2007.

Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann have vowed to do "whatever it takes for as long as it takes" to find her.

Mrs Murat told BBC Breakfast the car was driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

She said: "It was one of the small cars, like the rental cars - the normal, everyday sort of rental cars.

"I saw the driver, I was beside the driver. Both of us looked at each other. I think he had a very British look about him."

She also described seeing a woman standing outside the family's apartment on the night Madeleine went missing.

"I noticed her there and she kind of looked as if she was trying to hide from me. I do remember she was wearing a plum-coloured top," she said.

Mrs Murat's son Robert, a translator, was the first person to be made an arguido - a named suspect - in the case.

Madeleine McCann - In pictures

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He told the BBC he still cannot face reading about the case on the internet, despite being cleared of any involvement.

"The internet is full of theories - I want to know the truth, not theories," he said.

"I just want to know why that was the case. It didn't only lead to me being destroyed, it led to my whole family being destroyed, affected by those allegations.

"It was completely untrue."

British detectives working on the case revealed recently that they were pursuing a "significant" line of inquiry, with information received on a daily basis.

A special church service will be held at the Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz for all missing people, including Madeleine, at 9pm on Wednesday.

There is also expected to be a public gathering in her home village of Rothley to mark the 10th anniversary of her disappearance.

In previous years, villagers have joined members of the McCann family near the local war memorial on May 3 to support the continued search for her.

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