Diaries kept by the mother of Madeleine McCann will form part of the investigation into the girl's disappearance after a judge authorised police to seize them.

Detectives will also be given the power to seize Gerry McCann’s laptop computer and other unidentified documents belonging to the couple.

Police believe that the items could provide vital clues about what happened to their daughter following her disappearance in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3.

The couple took the items home to Rothley, Leicestershire, when they left the Algarve on Sunday. However, there are reports that police seized a copy of Kate’s diary and other correspondence before the couple left the country under laws to protect evidence from destruction.

Judge Pedro Daniel dos Anjos Frias was appointed yesterday morning to consider an urgent request by the public prosecutor in charge of the case, Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses, to seize the McCann's posessions.

The formal request to seize and analyze the items for potential evidence is due to be forwarded by the Polícia Judiciária to Leicestershire Police tomorrow (Thursday).

Portuguese detectives hope that the diaries which Mrs McCann kept in a series of notebooks and emails retrieved from Mr McCann’s white laptop will provide evidence of what happened to Madeleine and the location of her body. They also hope it will throw light on to the couple’s relationship.

Judge Frias received 4,000 pages of prosecution evidence on Tuesday and has 10 days in which to decide if further action should be taken in the investigation or if there is insufficient prospect of successfully bring a case against either Mr or Mrs McCann.

The McCann’s have become increasingly concerned that they fall victim to a miscarriage of justice with Portuguese police under intense pressure to solve the case.

The couple hope to commission an independent team of forensic experts to carry out tests on the Renault Scenic car they rented 25 days after their daughter’s disappearance.

Portuguese detectives are reported to have found traces of Madeleine’s hair and “Bodily fluids” in the boot of the car. A family friend said the couple had ensured that the car, hired from Budget, is being kept in a "safe place" in Portugal while they look into having their own tests carried out.

Police also intend to seize some of Madeleine's toys for forensic analysis, according to another Portuguese newspaper. Among them will be Cuddle Cat, a pink stuffed animal which Mrs McCann has been seen clutching almost continuously since the young girl went missing, the Diario de Noticias said.

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