By Mark Duell and Paul Bentley and Gerard Couzens Detectives from Scotland Yard have used a helicopter in a fresh search for Madeleine McCann ahead of crucial excavation work in the holiday resort where she vanished. After Scotland Yard detectives met with Portuguese authorities, an Alouette helicopter scoured the Praia da Luz coast on an apparent reconnaissance mission. Military photographers, who were accompanied by British policemen, took pictures of the beach and key sites in the resort where detectives plan to dig for clues in the coming days. Scroll down for video Arrival: Local media said six Scotland Yard officials, including two forensics experts, had landed in Faro
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British policemen take to the air in fresh search for Madeleine McCann
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Detectives scoured Praia da Luz and coastline using helicopter
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Specialist officers expected to examine several sites in holiday resort
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Team said to consist of six police officials and two forensics experts
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Digging comes seven years after British girl went missing aged three
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Scotland Yard wants to speak with eight witnesses 'relevant' to case
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This has been requested in letter to the Portuguese attorney general
Search site: The waste ground in @placeholder, Portugal, where Scotland Yard officers will join local police officers in digging as part of the investigation
@placeholder officers will, though, be on hand to supervise.