- Madeleine McCann vanished during a 2007 family vacation in Portugal
- London's Metropolitan Police release an image of how the girl might look now
- They say evidence uncovered during a review of the case gave new hope
- A family spokesman says the new report is no more credible than others
(CNN) -- British girl Madeleine McCann, who vanished during a 2007 family vacation in Portugal, may still be alive, UK authorities said Wednesday.
Madeleine was a few days shy of her fourth birthday when she disappeared from a condo at a resort while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.
London's Metropolitan Police released a new image of the girl created in collaboration with the family that shows how Madeleine might look at age 9. Her ninth birthday is May 12.
An investigative review formed in May last year has been going through details from the case.
"As a result of evidence uncovered during the review, they now believe there is a possibility Madeleine is still alive and are appealing for anyone who is able to provide direct information as to her whereabouts to contact the team," police said in a statement.
Investigators are combing through about 100,000 pages of information for more details, authorities said, without getting into specifics.
"The intention is to identify from that material investigative opportunities which we will then present to the Portuguese authorities who retain primacy for the investigation," police said. "Officers have so far identified around 195 such opportunities within the historic material, and are also developing what they believe to be genuinely new material."
Since her disappearance, her parents have appealed for help and said there's a chance she may still be alive. Frequent reports of sightings of her in various parts of the world have sparked frenzies. Last year, a report of a girl bearing a resemblance to the child created a spike on social media.
A spokesman for the girl's parents said the latest report is no more credible than other tips that proved incorrect over the years.
Portuguese investigators closed the case in July 2008.
