THE wife of a North-East holidaymaker missing in Spain returned home last night as police continued their weeklong search.

Michael Leslie Egglestone, a 52-year-old father-of-two, disappeared while hiking in mountains near Alicante, on the Costa Blanca.

A Spanish police search, supported by mountain rescue teams, a helicopter and local and British expatriate volunteers, has so far failed to uncover any clues.

It is understood that Spanish police are baffled by Mr Egglestone’s disappearance – not knowing if he is lost, had an accident or has been a victim of crime.

Mr Egglestone’s wife, Janice, is thought to have been involved in the search.

She returned to the family home in Nettlesworth, near Chester-le-Street, yesterday.

The couple are thought to have been married for about ten years and have two young sons.

Mr Egglestone, a former soldier, is an employer services manager at the Learning and Skills Council, in Gateshead.

He was due to return to work last Friday.

It is thought the couple were part of a group of 12 British holidaymakers who rented a villa together in the inland village of Benichembla.

Mr Egglestone had been walking every day of the holiday and was due to fly back to the UK only hours after he set off to climb a mountain called Bous, on the morning of Tuesday, June 2.

His wife reported him missing after he failed to reach his destination.

A Guardia Civil search was launched, focusing on the mountain areas of La Solana and La Laguna.

However, as no sign of Mr Egglestone has been found, police have become increasingly concerned.

On Monday, June 8, they widened their search to include neighbouring areas.

David Eaton, who owns Carrascal, a hotel in Benichembla, said everything he had heard about Mr Egglestone from members of his family suggested he was a “very kind and caring guy and a great father”.

He said: “He is a very accomplished mountain walker who loved the mountains and prepared for this trip with some great research, downloading maps and routes, pictures and information on the area before starting his holiday.”

It is hoped Mr Egglestone’s time in the Armed Forces will have given him the survival skills necessary to cope if he has become lost in the mountains.

Nikki Luxford, a journalist who lives in Benichembla, said the terrain was difficult and marked by many water wells.

She said that the weather in the region had been hot and humid, but police had been searching every day.

“They have spoken to walking groups, who have gone out with them, and they hoped by this time they would have found him,” she said.

“They have widened the search and are now trying to see if he’s come down somewhere else.”

The Foreign Office said British Consulate staff had been providing assistance to Mr Egglestone’s family.

Benichembla has about 750 residents, many of whom are from outside Spain.

It lies 30 miles north of the popular tourist spot of Benidorm, but is more closely linked with expatriates than holidaymakers.