Ananova:

A Moldovan who claimed his wife had died and borrowed cash to pay for her funeral was exposed when pals went to see how he was coping - and she opened the door.

Vitalie Varinca, 38, raised £3,000 in a whip round from workmates at the factory where he was a foreman in the town of Hughnchesht.

He told them his beautiful young wife had been tragically killed in a car accident while pregnant.

But he was arrested and charged with obtaining money by deception after worried friends dropped by to see how he was coping and his wife opened the door.

A police spokesman said: "They were very surprised to see a supposedly dead woman walking around the house fit and healthy. But not nearly as the surprised as the husband when he saw them."