British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have applied to the Portuguese authorities to search an area of scrubland for an extra seven days.
Police had originally been given until Friday to conduct searches in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz, where the youngster went missing in May 2007, but it is now understood they will be able to remain on the site for an extra week, pending approval.
The development comes as officers spent a third day probing the site, with forensics officers concentrating on one area which was previously hidden by undergrowth and ground-penetrating radar equipment being used.
Scotland Yard refused to comment on the extension application, having previously said they will not provide a "running commentary" about the investigation.
The area being searched, which is a few minutes' walk from the Ocean Club resort apartment where Madeleine and her family were staying, saw officers focusing their investigations on Wednesday on a hole which had been previously covered by undergrowth.
The area, which was covered by undergrowth until Tuesday, has already been subject to fingertip searches by officers in Metropolitan Police uniforms.
Local forestry workers spent a second day clearing large areas of undergrowth within the scrubland to aid the search.
Another patch that was previously overgrown was scanned with ground-penetrating radar equipment to probe for disturbed earth, with another tent set up nearby inside which officers were seen with spades.
There were also unconfirmed reports that the resort's sewers were being investigated for clues.
The Met's Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the senior officer investigating the case, declined to comment to reporters when he arrived at the scene.
It is understood police have also been granted permission to probe two others areas of land, one of which is believed to be even closer to the holiday apartment where the McCann family were staying.
The activity in Portugal comes two weeks after Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said officers are working through every credible line of inquiry in the search for the missing girl.
Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have not flown out to Portugal but are being kept informed of any developments.
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