Detectives investigating the disappearance of a north Wales couple in Spain have said there have been no new sightings.

Anthony and Linda O'Malley from Llangollen have not been seen since 12 September.

Jenny Stewart spoke to her mother on the phone

The couple had been property-hunting on the popular resort of Costa del Sol.

A large amount of cash was taken from their bank accounts shortly before they disappeared - and their hire car has not been returned.

On Saturday it was revealed that a full-scale search by Spanish police had still not been launched - even though they had been missing for more than two weeks

Authorities on the Costa del Sol said the Garda Civil had not been formally notified of the disappearance by British police or relatives of the couple.

Mr and Mrs O'Malley last spoke to relatives on 4 September.

An estate agent in Benidorm was the last person to see the O'Malleys on 12 September.

Mrs O'Malley, 55, was due to fly home on 13 September to return to work, while her 42-year-old husband - a self-employed car salesman - had planned to stay behind to view a house at nearby Villajoyosa on 17 September.

But neither of them turned up to meet the estate agent on the day that had been arranged.

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 search co-ordinated by the Garda 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," she said.

"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A large amount of cash - enough to buy a house - had been withdrawn from an account set up in Spain for that purpose.

What police describe as "out-of-character" credit card transactions across southern Spain are also being investigated.

The O'Malleys 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".

Pets had been tagged for travel in Spain

No-one has heard from them since 4 September, when 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.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said hospitals in the south of Spain were being contacted as a matter of course. "Our consulates in Malaga and London have been in constant contact with the family," he added.

"So far there has been no trace of them. Currently there are no traces of missing persons outstanding in Malaga and, as far as we know, there have been no bodies found."

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