A chef searching for the wife he lost touch with six years ago so that he can remarry, has been told by an anonymous caller that she is in Spain.

Ivan Marcelo, 36, of Garsington Road, Oxford, said the mystery woman caller would reveal no more about his wife, Michelle Dixon, 27, who used to live in Wheatley.

The couple met on a night out in Oxford city centre ten years ago. They married in 1993 but parted two years later and lost contact.

Now Mr Marcelo wants to marry his 33-year-old Brazilian girlfriend, Maria Vilma, but cannot do so until his wife is found and agrees to a divorce.

The woman caller saw an Oxford Mail report about Mr Marcelo's plight and rang to say his wife was visiting her mother in Spain.

But she would say no more and hung up.

Mr Marcelo said: "This girl saw the article in the newspaper and called me the next day. I do not know who it was.

"This girl said she was just calling as a favour, but she would not pass on a message from me. It has been ages now. I don't know if Michelle is coming back.

"I've had other calls, but they were people just messing around.

According to the law, Mr Marcelo could still be granted a divorce if he proves he has made every effort to find his wife.

After seven years with no contact, a missing spouse can, by law, be presumed dead, but divorce proceedings must still be completed.

Mr Marcelo said: "I don't want to wait another year."