British couple killed as Spanish home collapses

A British couple were killed in southern Spain when the house they were staying in collapsed, the Foreign Office confirmed today.

Expats Christopher and Christine Martin, both in their 60s, died yesterday evening at the farmhouse in Granada.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of two British nationals yesterday in Granada.

"It is believed that the house they were staying in collapsed.

"We are in contact with the next of kin and are providing consular assistance to them."

It is believed the couple died after the roof of the farmhouse fell in following days of heavy rain.

They were buried under rubble after a mudslide struck the house close to the mountain village of Rubite, the Daily Mail reported.

The Martins were watching television in a front room but their hosts, who were in the kitchen preparing a meal, avoided serious injury, the newspaper reported.