Police said the body was found after her husband, who is also British, showed the authorities where he had buried her.

The woman had been reported missing late last year with British authorities, but local police said they were only informed in the last few days of her disappearance.

Reports say her husband claims he had buried her under a concrete slab after she had committed suicide. He was taken for questioning to the PJ Portimão police station and is accompanied by his lawyer.