Police investigating the disappearance of a north Wales couple in Spain have received calls from people claiming to be victims of crime in the same area.

The new leads came to light during an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch programme for help in finding Llangollen couple Anthony and Linda O'Malley.

Couple's movements:

Aug 30 - Flight from Manchester to Malaga Sep 4 - Linda O'Malley phones daughter in final contact Sep 12 - Hire car not returned to airport as scheduled Sep 13 - O'Malleys fail to show for return flight JMC 11 Sep 23 - Auction for Villajoyosa holiday home unattended

A number of callers said they had been flagged down at roadsides in Spain and property was stolen from them.

Around 50 viewers called in to the programme on Thursday night after Mrs O'Malley's daughter, Nicola, made a direct appeal for her parents, who are originally from Liverpool, to get in touch.

Three callers claimed to have seen the hire car abandoned in bushes in the region, while others reported seeing them after the date they disappeared.

Appealing for information, Mr O'Malley's brother Bernard said a number of purchases have been made on his credit card for clothes and shoes which would not fit him, fuelling speculation of foul play.

"The longer it goes on, the harder it is to believe Anthony and Linda can return safe," he said.

Alongside detectives from North Wales Police, he was hoping to jog the memories of British holidaymakers in Spain.

Callers said they saw the vehicle concealed in bushes on the route from Benidorm to Malaga.

They also said they saw a couple resembling the missing pair.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Crabtree said: "I'm quite interested. Three people have sighted the car.

"They haven't confirmed the registration number. It was concealed on the route back from Benidorm to Malaga - so that fits.

"People said they saw a similar couple to the O'Malleys after 13 September - we need to check that out.

"Another woman said she was robbed by a gang of people that stole her handbag - west of Benidorm, but it's worth following up.

'Unusual' purchases

Anthony, 42, and Linda O'Malley, 55, had gone on holiday to look at buying a retirement home.

But the couple has not been heard of since they vanished while travelling in a blue Fiat Stilo (registration number 8588BTT).

They flew to Malaga from Manchester on 30 August but have not been seen since 13 September - when they were due to fly home.

Enough money for a property -believed to be as much as �20,000 - was taken from their bank account.

''Hard to believe'

Police said lots of "unusual" purchases were made using their credit card several days after they were reported missing by their families.

Spanish officers have contacted most of the stores and outlets in Benidorm, Alicante and Valencia where their bank and credit cards were used.

The transactions were carried out up to six days after they disappeared. But no significant information has been provided.