A North-East couple have been arrested in Spain in connection with the murder of a British woman on the Costa del Sol, the Foreign Office confirmed today.

Richard Monteith, 50, and his wife Anne Marie, 47, from Whitley Bay were arrested in connection with the murder of widow Diana Dyson, 63.

They are being held in prison in Malaga.

Mrs Dyson's body was found in her apartment in Torremolinos on March 10.

The Foreign Office would not comment on reports that she had been tortured, beaten, stabbed and strangled.

Detectives believe she was dead for four or five days before she was found.

Mrs Dyson is believed to have come from Sheffield and recently retired to Spain.

The Monteiths, who had emigrated to Torremolinos, are currently being visited by British consular officials.

They appeared before the court in Torremolinos on Saturday.