A BODY found in the Spanish mountain range where a British walker vanished more than a week ago is believed to be that of a local man.

Families in the village of Benichembla, near Alicante, on the Costa Blanca, where Michael Egglestone, from Chester-le-Street had been staying on holiday, said they had been told by the Guardia Civil that a body had been discovered on the mountains, but not yet indentified.

On Wednesday night the body was being transferred to the coastal town of Denia, where a post mortem could be carried out and formal indentification could take place.

Lem Goode, manager at el Gat bar said: "No-one knows for sure what's happening.

"Everyone' just hopes the body isn't the missing walker.

"We all want to believe he's still out there somewhere, that he's still alive.

"I have seen the police today but they have refused to release any details until the body had been properly indetified.

"It's a very anxious time for a lot of people round here."