A FRIEND of Madeleine McCann's parents may have seen her being carried away from her holiday apartment the night she vanished, it was revealed yesterday.

A witness reported seeing a man carrying "an object that could have been a child" in the Algarve village of Praia Da Luz at 9.30pm on May 3, while Madeleine's parents were finishing dinner nearby. The couple are convinced it was their daughter being carried.

A source indicated last night that the sighting, the most striking so far in the case, was by one of the party holidaying with the couple, who has not been named.

The description is similar to that included in reports of a man seen dragging a girl along a road towards the marina at nearby Lagos.

Last night, police in Portugal finally released a description of the man seen that night, ahead of possible legal action by Madeleine's parents.

The information, likely to have been released earlier in the inquiry as a matter of course in other countries, had to be sanctioned by the public prosecutor.

It followed an "amicable" meeting with senior Portuguese police and the McCanns, believed to have taken place yesterday.

The couple also had discussions with British Ambassador John Buck and UK police at their apartment yesterday.

Police have been heavily criticised in the British media over the past three weeks for not releasing more details of suspicious sightings, but Portuguese law strictly forbids the disclosure of information about an investigation.

It is thought the police have known about the sighting for three weeks, but have not released it due to the legal restrictions.

The description is of a white man, aged 35 to 40, of medium build and 5ft 10in.

He was wearing a dark jacket, light beige trousers and dark shoes. However, details of facial features were scant.

Last night's announcement was welcomed by the McCanns.

A spokesman for the couple confirmed: "Gerry and Kate McCann are pleased to hear about what appears to be a new development.

"They will now be considering what the police have said before making any further comment.

"They are acutely aware that this is an ongoing investigation."

Yesterday, the couple spoke of the guilt they felt surrounding Madeleine's abduction.

In their first full interview, Mr and Mrs McCann spoke about the "darkness" they felt in the first hours and days.

Mr McCann said: "I think it is fair to say that the guilt that we feel having not been there at that moment, irrespective of whether we had been in the next bedroom or not, will never leave us."

His wife said: "I think as time goes on, you feel stronger and you feel very supported."