A bigamist who tried to hide his double life by claiming he had terminal cancer was caught out when his wives contacted each other on Facebook.

Michael Eels, 59, told his first wife Andrea and their three children he had to move 345 miles north to Newcastle where he would receive "the best possible treatment" for his illness, Lewes Crown Court heard.

He told his family he was suffering from terminal cancer while on a family holiday.

Eels met his second wife-to-be, Sally Howard, online. They moved to Northumberland together after a bigamous second marriage in Sussex.

He borrowed £4,000 from Miss Howard's father to pay for the wedding, and first wife Andrea event sent him cash when he needed it.

The prosecution said Eels, who pleaded guilty to bigamy last month, would travel back to Eastbourne monthly to spend three or four days with his family in his marital home.

Eels' double life was exposed when Miss Howard discovered a Christmas card to her husband from Andrea. She searched for Andrea on Facebook and messaged her to find out who she was.

Andrea opened the message last year and the two met up and, to their disbelief, found out they were married to the same man.