Live News From Spain As It Happens

TWO men in their 20s have been arrested in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for stealing a coffin out of the back of a parked hearse.

A witness saw them carrying it along the Paseo San José and called the police, who notified the funeral directors.

One of their employees accompanied officers on their search after finding that a briefcase containing makeup used in the embalming process had been taken along with the coffin.

Police went round to a home they believed to be occupied by one of the men, who turned out to be in and admitted to the theft.

Both the coffin, which was empty, and the briefcase, said to be worth around €1,500, were returned to the funeral parlour.

Three hours later, whilst hunting for the second thief, National Police were called by a witness who had spotted a young man 'in a very agitated state' and 'kicking and punching parked cars'.

This same witness said the young man and a female friend had threatened to kill him as a 'grass' over the stolen coffin.