British police to dig for evidence of Madeleine McCann in Portuguese wasteland

PRAIA DA LUZ, Portugal, June 2 (UPI) -- The search for missing British toddler Madeleine McCann continues.

The three year-old disappeared on May 3, 2007 while on vacation with her family in Portugal. She was last seen asleep in her room at their vacation apartment.

This week, the search will extend to an area of wasteland in the beach resort town of Praia da Luz. British police will be digging for evidence, sources told CNN.

The area was previously searched by Portuguese police shortly after the toddler's disappearance.

Scotland Yard confirmed that British officers would be in Praia da Luz this week but declined to provide further details regarding the latest search effort.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley told the media on May 22 that "specific police activity" would soon take place in Portugal. He cautioned that "It should not be assumed that this substantial upcoming phase of work in Portugal will immediately lead us to the answers that will explain what has happened."

Scotland Yard reopened the Madeleine McCann case in July 2013 after a review of the initial investigation. The Portuguese police reopened their case in October 2013.