THE family of a man who died on holiday in Spain have secured a promise that they will be allowed to return his body to Bolton.

Richard Riley, aged 77, who had dementia, was found dead after he went missing during a family holiday in the Menorcan resort of Cala Galdana.

The Bolton Evening News revealed how he had been buried in Spain without the consent of wife Agnes -- and Spanish authorities said he would have to be cremated there and his ashes returned to Britain.

Now, with help from Bolton North East MP David Crausby, the family have been told that they will be able to have his body returned to this country for a proper burial service. But this could be delayed until January because of a hold-up with the results of DNA tests -- to help to identify formally his body -- which have still not been returned.

Mr Crausby said: "The problem is that there is apparently only one establishment in Spain that does DNA testing and it's in Barcelona.

"It is very disappointing and we are trying to keep the pressure on to ensure that Mr Riley can be returned as soon as possible, but at the moment they're sticking to the original three-month timescale.

"The main thing is that at least Mrs Riley has been assured that her husband's body will be returned rather than cremated over there, which is what she was initially told."

An international funeral firm will help with the arrangements once Mr Riley's body is formally identified using the DNA testing.

Mr Riley, from Tonge Fold, was buried in a churchyard in Menorca on the orders of a judge.

The family only only found out after Mr Riley's daughter, Jean Knowles, flew to Spain to find out how her father had died and when his body could be returned to the UK.

GRIEVING: Mr Riley's widow Agnes

THE family of a man who died on holiday in Spain have secured a promise that they will be allowed to return his body to Bolton.

Richard Riley, aged 77, who had dementia, was found dead after he went missing during a family holiday in the Menorcan resort of Cala Galdana.

The Bolton Evening News revealed how he had been buried in Spain without the consent of wife Agnes -- and Spanish authorities said he would have to be cremated there and his ashes returned to Britain.

Now, with help from MP David Crausby, the family have been told that they will be able to have his body returned to this country for a proper burial service. But this could be delayed until January because of a hold-up with the results of DNA tests -- to help to formally identify his body -- which have still not been returned.

Mr Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, said: "The problem is that there is apparently only one establishment in Spain that does DNA testing and it's in Barcelona.

"It is very disappointing and we are trying to keep the pressure on to ensure that Mr Riley can be returned as soon as possible, but at the moment they're sticking to the original three-month timescale.

"The main thing is that at least Mrs Riley has been assured that her husband's body will be returned rather than cremated over there, which is what she was initially told."

An international funeral firm will help with the arrangements once Mr Riley's body is formally identified using the DNA testing.

Mr Riley, from Tonge Fold, was buried in a churchyard in Menorca on the orders of a judge.

The family only only found out after Mr Riley's daughter, Jean Knowles, flew to Spain to find out how her father had died and when his body could be returned to the UK.

GRIEVING: Mr Riley's widow Agnes