'Sighting' of missing tourist

Eileen Owen in Gran Canaria shortly before she disappeared

Police on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria are investigating a possible sighting of a woman from south Wales missing for 11 days.

Eileen Owen, 53, disappeared from her apartment in the middle of the night while on holiday with her husband in the resort of Puerto Rico.

A woman fitting her description was seen in a nearby resort on Monday.

Police said they think Mrs Owen, a college receptionist from Abercynon, is still alive.

An officer in the Civil Guard who is involved with the search said on Wednesday: "We believe this woman left the hotel of her own accord.

He added they were investigating a reported sighting in the resort of Maspalomas, a few miles from Puerto Rico, on Monday.

Mrs Owen was last seen when she went to bed with her husband Michael, also 53, at their apartment hotel on Saturday, 17 July.

A poster of Mrs Owen has been circulated across the resort

About an hour later, early on Sunday, her husband woke up and found she had gone.

The officer said: "We cannot be sure that it was her, but from the description we think it was.

"But we were unable to find her. The sighting was by someone who had seen her photograph on local television."

A police helicopter has previously been used in the hunt for her and posters have been circulated.

The Owens had gone to the resort of Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria for a week's holiday.

Mrs Owen, who works at the art and design college in Pontypridd, did not take any money, clothes or her passport with her.

On the night she disappeared Mrs Owen went out for a meal, but was said to have been in a strange mood and did not eat or drink anything.

She is of medium build, about 5ft 1in with dark hair, and was last seen wearing black trousers and a pink t-shirt.

Her son and daughter, Neil and Nicola, have both been out to the island to help locate her.

Her brother and sister are now preparing to fly out to assist Mr Owen and the police in the search.