A FAMILY have been told they may have to wait three years before they get justice for their dead son.

Pam and George Cummings are opposing an appeal by the three Greek doctors responsible for the death of Christopher Rochester, who are seeking to have their jail sentences overturned.

They were found guilty of manslaughter by negligence and sentenced to three years in prison last September, but are free pending the appeal.

The family have been told they may have to wait for up to three years for the hearing to come to court in Rhodes.

They also need a Rhodes-trained solicitor to interpret the law but cannot find one.

Christopher, 24, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, died after falling 40ft from a balcony while on holiday on the Greek island in June 2000.

His mother and stepfather need to raise £11,000 to cover legal costs for the appeal and travel expenses.

Mrs Cummings met their Athens-based lawyer in London last weekend.

She said: "We feel like we are being left in limbo, but at least it gives us more time to raise the funds we will need."

The lawyer told the family he expected the case to be heard within a year, but said it might take until September 2006.

Mrs Cummings said: "Our lawyer in Athens is still looking for a Rhodes-trained lawyer, but we are having difficulty because they are all intertwined with each other.

"They don't want to step on each other's toes."

The family has been organising fundraising events since they realised they had another legal fight on their hands.

The next event will be a table top sale between 10am-2pm on Saturday, at Bullion Hall, Bullion Lane, Chester-le-Street.

All money raised goes towards The Christopher Rochester Trust Fund.