A FAMILY whose son died because of the neglect of Greek doctors say they cannot find a solicitor on the holiday island of Rhodes to represent them.

Christopher Rochester, 24, of Chester-le-Street, died when he fell 40 feet from a hotel balcony in Rhodes. An inquest in Durham ruled he should not have died from his injuries and, last September, three Greek doctors were found guilty of his manslaughter following a trial in Rhodes. Lawyers for the three lodged appeals and their sentences were suspended pending the appeal. Under Greek law, the family must be represented by a solicitor who has trained and qualified on Rhodes to fight the appeal. The family thought their biggest hurdle would be finding the £11,000 legal and travel costs.

But Christopher's stepfather, George Cummings, said that their biggest fear now was that the three doctors may be acquitted because the family cannot find legal representation. Mr Cummings said their current solicitor in Athens could not find a Rhodes solicitor to come forward. He said: "At the start of the campaign, we tried to get a solicitor from Rhodes island and that proved impossible. The same problem is arising now. Whatever sources the solicitor is approaching, they will not come forward to represent us.

"It's down to intimidation because any solicitor seen to be supporting us, the word will go round not to use him."