A coordinated ground search by Spanish police for a missing British couple who were house hunting has yet to get under way, it is reported.

The Garda Civil had not been formerly notified by police or relatives in the UK of the disappearance of Linda and Anthony O'Malley, according to the authorities in Spain.

Jenny Stewart spoke to her mother on the phone

The couple last spoke with relatives on 4 September and a witness in Benidorm was the last person to see the O'Malleys on 12 September.

Mrs O'Malley was due to fly home on 13 September to Llangollen in north Wales to go back to work, while Mr O'Malley had arrangements to view a house near Benidorm on 17 September.

But neither of the O'Malleys turned up to meet the woman property agent on the day.

A couple who went missing in southern Spain while house-hunting were last seen by a property agent - a day before they were due to fly home.

I was worried from the onset, as my would never ever put their family through this pain and heartache

Nicola Welch, daughter

The BBC's Claire Marshall reported from the city that a coordinated search involving the Guardia Civil with the help of North Wales Police, had not begun.

"While Interpol and North Wales Police know, it does seem as if the Spanish police have not yet been formally contacted.

"It does seem to be a problem in these cases, where communication between the two countries is very difficult, but that is not much comfort to the families back home."

North Wales Police are working with Interpol and officers are carrying out an "audit trail" of the couple's financial transactions.

Det Insp Nick Crabtree: 'Wide range of enquiries'

A large amount of cash - enough to buy a house - had been withdrawn from an account set up in Spain for that purpose and "out-of-character" credit card transactions across southern Spain are also being investigated.

They were interested in viewing a small �20,000 house at Villajoyosa, five miles south of the city.

But the couple have not been seen for more than two weeks and their hire car, a blue Fiat Stilo registration number 8588 BTP, is also missing.

Detective Inspector Nick Crabtree of North Wales Police said inquiries to trace the couple were being made with Interpol, the Foreign Office and the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS).

Bernard O'Malley: 'Devoted couple'

The police confirmed withdrawals had been made from points across Spain, but it is not known by whom.

"There are a wide range of enquiries to be made in Spain, including the whereabouts of the couple's hire vehicle, which is still outstanding," said Det Insp Crabtree.

"Clearly I have a sense of unease. We are treating this at the moment as a missing person investigation. Linda was dedicated to her work. She had every intention of coming back to her work."

The O'Malleys, who had been married for 15 years, were said to be "dedicated to each other and their families".

They had flown to Malaga on 30 August for two weeks, but they did not board their scheduled flight home.

Pets had been tagged for travel in Spain

No-one has heard from them since 4 September, when 55-year-old Mrs O'Malley telephoned her daughter.

Her other daughter, Nicola Welch, 32, from Hampshire, said: "They were well travelled, sensible and professional people. They worked very hard all their lives and were very private people."

The couple - who had their two dogs tagged in readiness for their move - are known to have visited Malaga, Benidorm and Valencia.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the police on 0845 6071002.