THE family of a North-East tourist who died after a fall from his hotel balcony yesterday launched their bid to take their fight for justice to the European Court of Human Rights.

Relatives of Christopher Rochester, who died in hospital on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes, met MEP Stephen Hughes and North Durham MP Kevan Jones yesterday to discuss taking their case to the court in Strasbourg.

The 24-year-old, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, died in the Andreas Papandreou Hospital in June 2000.

Three Greek doctors were initially convicted of his manslaughter through neglect and sentenced to three years in prison, but were acquitted in February on appeal.

After yesterday's meeting at Durham's County Hall, Mr Hughes said he would immediately begin investigating procedures for taking the case to the European Court.

"We have to establish whether the case can be taken directly to Strasbourg or whether the process needs to start in a Greek court," he said.

George Cummings, Christopher's stepfather, said the family were now taking a two-pronged attack to get justice for Christopher - an appeal to the Supreme Court in Athens on a point of law for a retrial on the Greek mainland, and the legal action through the European Court of Human Rights.

He said: "In the hours leading up to Chris's death, his human rights were severely breached through his lack of treatment - his right to life and right to live were taken away from him so there is a case to be heard."

Taking the case to Europe will cost the family a minimum of £10,000, with no legal aid available.

However, Mr Cummings said: "It is going to be very expensive but that has never deterred the family or our supporters before. I am confident that the North-East people and their generosity will get us to Strasbourg."