Maddie's father: It's intolerable (+photos)

Gerry McCann has hit out at the treatment he and Kate have received from the Portuguese police. Photo / Reuters

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Madeleine McCann's father last night accused Portuguese police of subjecting him and his wife to inhumane treatment.

Gerry McCann hit out amid new claims that traces of Maddie's body fluids tested positive for large quantities of adult sedatives.

"We're frightened and have been backed into a corner. We know we are innocent. It's intolerable," a British newspaper last night quoted him saying.

Dr McCann and wife Kate, whose daughter vanished in May, were hit by a new wave of allegations yesterday.

The sedative claims relate to strands of Maddie's hair found in the boot of their hire car. Leaked details from Kate McCann's diary were reported to portray her as struggling to deal with domestic life and her hyperactive daughter Madeleine.

Reports also claimed that the McCanns, both doctors aged 39, are about to be ordered back to Portugal to face new questions about Maddie's disappearance.

Meanwhile, Portuguese detectives have been urged to ditch their case against the McCanns and reopen the investigation into a girl who disappeared in similar circumstances to Madeleine's.

Crime expert Mark Williams-Thomas says there are too many similarities between the two cases for it not to be a strong line of police inquiry.