Police are set to investigate a clairvoyants claim that Madeleine McCanns body is buried in a forest six miles from the Portuguese holiday resort where she went missing.
Michael Schneider, who has successfully located the remains of several missing people, has told officers that Madeleine is unfortunately dead and buried in Portugal north-east of Lagos.
He has given cops the exact co-ordinates of the spot where he believes they will find her body.
Tonight senior German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed to the Sunday People his officers have previously used clairvoyants and in some cases received specific information.
But Schneiders claim will come as a fresh blow to Madeleines parents Kate, 52, and doctor Gerry, 53, of Rothley, Leics, who believe she is still alive.
(Image: Michael Schneider)
Madeleine vanished from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3 in 2007, days before her fourth birthday.
Schneider, 50, a former TV reporter, said: I do not give out such information lightly and without constantly questioning myself because I am very well aware of the responsibility of what I do.
Last month he helped solve the case of a woman who went missing in Germany. She was found hanging from a tree 36 hours after Schneider gave police the correct location.
He also successfully pinpointed the bodies of Âmurdered couple Peter Neumair, 63, and Laura Perselli, 68, who went missing from their home in Bolzano in Italy in January.
Peters sister Michaela said: In the case of Maddie, in my view it is worth a try the police should take a look at the coordinates Michael has given.
Schneider contacted the BKA Germanys equivalent of the FBI three weeks ago with his claim.
They emailed back saying: Your Âinformation will be appropriately incorporated into our work.
Schneider said: I am happy that the BKA seem to be taking me seriously.
Often you have a reputation as a freak or someone just trying to squeeze money out of someone, and this is quite hurtful. I never take money.
(Image: Getty)
Explaining his psychic technique, Schneider said: I look at a photo of the missing person and ask myself upwards towards God whether this living being is alive or dead.
After that I take an atlas or a road map and look at large areas superficially. Afterwards at Google Maps and Earth.
Then I let my fingers and my eyes circle over these maps until they stop on a spot and mark it.
German prosecutors have named paedophile Christian Brueckner, 44, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence for rape, as the prime suspect.
Mr Wolters refused to comment on Schneider but said: Several psychics have responded to our call for help in the past year and offered assistance.
In some cases, we also received Âconcrete tips. We do not ignore them, but we are cautious.
The Sunday People asked the McCanns Portuguese legal team to comment.
