A FAMILY on the brink of flying out to Greece to see medical staff stand trial accused of killing their son have been told there will be no translator.

Christopher Rochester, 24, bled to death unattended in a Greek hospital in June 2000.

The bar and entertainments manager from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, fell 40ft from a balcony on the holiday resort of Faliraki, where he was visiting his brother, Keith.

A post-mortem examination held in Britain showed Mr Rochester should not have died from his injuries.

His family have since battled to get the Greek authorities to take action against the hospital staff.

But with only days to go before the trial - which is due to begin next Wednesday - they have received a letter from the court telling them there is no translator available, even though the court has summoned Chris's mother, Pam Cummings, and his brother to appear as witnesses.

Durham North MP Kevan Jones has been in contact with the British consulate over the issue.

The family flew to Rhodes for the start of the court case in September, but it was adjourned for eight months because one of the three accused doctors, Sergios Paulidis, had not been properly summoned, and one of the two nurses was absent.

The staff are charged with manslaughter by neglect.

Mr Rochester's stepfather, George Cummings, said: "If there is a spanner to throw in the works, they will do it at the last minute. But we have jumped over each hurdle every time it's put in front of us.

"Chris must have known his life was ebbing away when he was in hospital. Apart from the pain and suffering, he must have been going through mental torture as well."