A CHARITY football match is expected to raise up to £400 for a family's legal battle after the death of their son in Greece.

Three Greek doctors were sentenced to three years in jail in September over the death of Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street, County Dur-ham.

They were convicted of manslaughter by negligence for their failure to offer treatment after Christopher fell 40ft from a hotel balcony on the holiday island of Rhodes in June 2000.

But Christopher's mother and stepfather, Pam and George Cummings, need £11,000 to meet legal costs and to travel to Rhodes to fight an appeal lodged by the doctors.

The couple, who have been supported by locals to fund their trips, organised a fundraising match with Waldridge Park Under-13s at Chester-le-Street's Hermitage School. The Trust Fund Geriatrics were beaten 5-4 by the youth team.

Mr Cummings said: "Although there were serious undertones, we all had a good laugh during the match.

"There were quite a few supporters cheering both sides."

Mr Cummings said he was determined to fight the appeal by the doctors, whose three-year jail sentences were suspended until the appeal.

He said: "We want justice for Christopher.

"The three doctors are still working today as if nothing has happened. We feel their convictions mean nothing until we can uphold them."