Madeleine McCann's pink pyjamas key to new police search as bags carried away from reservoir

The search of Portugal’s Arade Dam began on Tuesday after sources close to the investigation said police were led there by “credible” new information.

A drought has reduced the water levels at the dam, with the worst dry spell in years seen as key to the cops securing a breakthrough.

Portuguese and German search specialists, who are being monitored by Scotland Yard have been told to hunt for rags and fragments of clothing, according to sources close to the investigation.

“The search is being taken very seriously and is being controlled totally by the Germans," a Portuguese source told The Sun.

"They are so sensitive about this information they did not even disclose the exact location of the search area until shortly before work started.

“They asked Portuguese officers assisting them to look for any evidence — but specifically rags.”

On the night Maddie disappeared from her family's apartment in Praia da Luz, the toddler was wearing pink pyjamas.

A source told The Times police have been told to hunt for traces of her pink pyjamas.

During the first day of the huge search mission, teams of officers were spotted with shovels and accompanied by sniffer dogs as they combed the desolate site under a no-fly zone.

Officers were spotted removing bags from the site, however it is unknown what the bags contained.

Arade Dam can only be accessed by a dirt road and it has been linked to the Madeleine case before when it was searched in 2008.

Christian B is known to have regularly visited the location where he parked his yellow and white VW camper van in a car park close to the water’s edge.

A German source added: “The initial thought was that this was a last throw of the dice. But the arrival of top German BKA officers (Federal Criminal police) and the role of Scotland Yard suggests they have credible information.

“This is also not a spur of the moment move. They have been planning it since the start of May.”