Four mountaineers feared missing in the Picos de Europa were reported to be safe and well yesterday, waiting for a break in the weather before setting off on their return journey after spending Monday night in a hikers' refuge located between the towns of Pineda and Barrio in the province of Palencia.

The news was confirmed by the wife of one of the men whom she managed to contact by mobile phone.

A spokesman from the regional government of Cantabria said yesterday lunchtime, contradicting a statement made earlier by the general director of Cantabria's Civil Protection department, José Luis Gochicoa, that the four men had never actually been considered missing as they had been in constant contact with their families since setting out on their expedition on Easter Monday.

All four men are also reported to be expert mountaineers with many years' experience.