New official figures show the vast sums of money raised by the public and how it was spent on trying to find the young girl during the 10 months after she went missing.

More than £815,000 went towards the search itself between the time of her disappearance in May 2007 and March last year.

This included £250,000 for search fees, including Spanish private detectives Metodo 3, £111,522 for legal costs and £123,573 for campaign management, accounts filed to Companies House show.

Madeleine’s Fund was launched a fortnight after the child vanished from Praia da Luz, southern Portugal, on May 3, 2007.

Money flooded in from supporters around the world who wanted to do something to help her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

Donations in the period to March 31 last year totalled £1,846,178, including £64,078 from sales of T-shirts and wrist bands.

Mr McCann’s brother John, who is one of the fund’s directors, said contributions had since dropped off.

For legal reasons, Madeleine’s Fund was set up as a not-for-profit limited company rather than a charity.

Its objectives are to secure Madeleine’s safe return, to ensure that anyone involved in her disappearance is brought to justice, and to provide support to her family.

Clarence Mitchell

The parents and Clarence Mitchell

There was controversy when it was disclosed in October 2007 that the McCanns had used money from the fund to pay two mortgage payments on their home in Rothley, Leicestershire.

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “The accounts have been independently audited and are entirely transparent.”

His salary was previously paid by the McCanns’ millionaire benefactor, Cheshire-based entrepreneur Brian Kennedy.

But it is understood that he has been receiving a monthly retainer from the Madeleine Fund since September last year.

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family’s holiday apartment while her parents dined with friends nearby. She has not been found.