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There is new hope for a woman who has been told she must divorce her dead husband before she can remarry.

A search of the sunken trawler The Gaul is under way – which may provide vital clues to prove her husband really has been dead for 28 years.

The story about Sheila Doone’s heartache was broken by the Aireborough Advertiser three years ago.

And now that a full-scale investigation is under way the Hull Daily Mail has also taken up the quest to find out what happened to the 36 men on board, and why their boat sank in the Barents Sea, off Norway.

There are rumours the Gaul could have been involved in spying or could even have been torpedoed in the Cold War.

Sheila Doone has been told she cannot remarry until there is confirmation of her husband’s death – or until she divorces him, which she won’t do as a matter of principle. An alleged sighting in South Africa more than 20 years ago has dogged her life and means she cannot marry the man she fell in love with after the death of her husband, John.

No death certificates have been issued to any of the crew.

Aireborough Advertiser editor Graham Smith said: “This is a big survey. It is Government-backed and is costing £2m.

“A former mate is on board the survey ship, as is a former skipper of the Gaul, and they are taking part in a robotic dive. It could turn up a watch, or signet ring that might spell the end of the mystery for the 36 families involved.

“My personal involvement has included approaching John Prescott to help Sheila Doone, wife of the radio operator, who was refused the right to remarry two years ago. This was because of an alleged sighting of John Doone in 1978 in South Africa.

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