A British man has spoken of his grief after wife and daughter died in floods in Spain.

Mark Cullen, 49, said his wife Lorraine, 47, and daughter Lauren, 14, lost their footing as they tried to cross a swollen river with Lauren's twin sister Samantha, 14 and the girls' Spanish friend Gemma, 14.

They were trying to cross the River Clariano to get to their home in L'Olleria, near Valencia, but were carried off by the current.

Their bodies were retrieved yesterday morning.

Mr Cullen, from Brighton, said: "My wife went to pick up Samantha from the town centre. When they drove back the water was up high over the bridge. They got out of the car, all held hands and started to walk across the river.

"It was only up to their knees, but one of them slipped and the others came crashing down. It carried them across the edge.

"My daughter Sam is quite strong and managed to grab hold of a tree and climb up. She saw Gemma and grabbed her, but Lorraine and Lauren were gone."

Mr Cullen flew out to Valencia on Thursday with his sons Daniel, 22, and Darren, 19, to be with his surviving daughter as she was treated at a local hospital.

The British Embassy in Spain said local consular officials were providing assistance to the family.

The Valencia region has experienced heavy rains in recent days, with water engulfing streets and blocking roads and railway lines in the area.

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