a village of 6,000 on the banks of the Lobera river
hosted a weekend fiesta to welcome 68 women for a meet-and-greet with the its single men
Cave paintings show Candeleda has been inhabited for 5,000 years
said he would hate to see its population dwindle after such a long history
"I've checked out the few widows and single women here," he said
"I signed up for this to meet new ladies and to hopefully show them the beauty of my town."
was set up in 1995 to promote rural repopulation by organising parties for single men and woman
Up to 100 of Spain's 5,000 villages are under imminent threat of abandonment
said Spain's painful financial crisis and the lure of city jobs had made the need more pressing than ever
Asocamu credits as its inspiration the 1951 film Westward the Women
which tells the story of how the American west was populated by organising wagon trains of women to provide company – and brides – for lonely pioneers
said she was attracted by the idea of a nice day out and a chance for romance
"I know it's difficult to find the love of one's life
but some of these meetings have led to marriages," she said
have voted in favour of naming a road after former PM Sir John Major
Former prime minister Sir John Major is set to be honoured with a street named after him in a Spanish town he has often visited on holiday
Politicians in Candeleda have voted in favour of naming a road in the town John Major Avenue in recognition of the former Conservative leader
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