A FAMILY is desperate for answers after a father-of-two was found dead in police custody in Benidorm.

Antony Abbott was on holiday with his partner of nine years, Catherine Corless, and children Ellie, aged eight, and Louie, aged seven.

Two days before the family was due to travel back to Bolton — in the early hours of Friday — Mr Abbott, aged 36, was arrested at Hotel Palm Beach for being rowdy after drinking.

Miss Corless saw her partner being led away by police but stayed with her children at the hotel.

Just two hours later — at 3am — police returned to the hotel to inform Miss Corless her partner had died.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the death and said they were in contact with the relevant authorities.

The family say they are now going to contact their local MP in a bid to get answers.

Miss Corless, who lives in Halliwell, said: “I saw him being taken off. He turned to me and said ‘I’m sorry, I will see you soon, I love you’.

“He was on holiday and can be a bit of show off when he's had a drink — he was arrested for being rowdy."

The 28-year-old said: “We are just devastated.

“We are being told different stories about when he was found.

“He was taken to the police station at 1.45am and we are being told he was found dead at 2am and 2.15am

“When I went to identify the body on Saturday, he had bruises all over his head.

“We are not getting any information from the police.”

It is understood staff at the hotel called police.

Other members of Miss Corless’s family flew to Spain later on Friday and she flew back on Sunday with her children.

Mr Abbott's body is due to be be flown home later this week.

The two met through friends nine years ago in Horwich, where Mr Abbott is originally from, before they moved in together in Halliwell.

She said: “It was the best holiday ever, we were all having such a good holiday, he was so happy. I can’t believe what has happened.

“We had been together for nine years. We were making plans for Christmas. We were just so happy."

She said that Mr Abbot loved his job at Morrison's store in Chorley New Road, where he knew many people.

Miss Corless, who works for Parcels2Go, added: “We need answers to what happened. I am not being told anything.

“He died within 15 minutes of being taken to the police station."

A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are in contact with local authorities and are providing support to the family of a British national who died in Benidorm on October 23."

Friends have set up a page to raise money for the family to help with funeral costs and expenses on crowdfunding.justgiving.com/help-for-catherine