Former Norfolk car salesman Robert Murat has been thrust back into the heart of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.Mr Murat, 34, who used to live in Hockering, near Dereham, was the first person declared an official suspect by Portuguese Police and has had that hanging over him since May.

Former Norfolk car salesman Robert Murat has been thrust back into the heart of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Mr Murat, 34, who used to live in Hockering, near Dereham, was the first person declared an official suspect by Portuguese Police and has had that hanging over him since May.

He and his relatives and close friends have continually protested his innocence and despite the length of him being under suspicion he has never been charged.

Mr Murat insists he was with his mother at her apartment on the night Madeleine vanished.

Yesterday there were reports in several national newspapers claiming a nanny at the holiday complex where the toddler went missing had seen Mr Murat at the scene on the night.

Charlotte Pennington, 20, claims she saw Murat at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz on the evening of May 3.

She told the private detective agency hired by the McCanns that when she confronted the expat property developer the following day he denied having ever been there.

She said he tried to shrug it off and instead gave his mobile number to one of her colleagues in case she saw "anything suspicious".

And she recalled that Murat told them: "When you see something strange contact me."

The details emerged after Charlotte, from Leatherhead, Surrey, was questioned again about the evening four-year-old Maddy vanished.

Mr Murat lived in Hockering until two years ago. He now lives in Praia da Luz, close to where Madeleine disappeared, but his ex-wife Dawn and their daughter still live in Norfolk.

Geoffrey Livock, a friend of the Murats and who lives in Hockering, said villagers continued to believe that Mr Murat had nothing to do with Madeleine's disappearance.

“I just wish they would find the little girl safe and well, and then all this could be over,” he said.