THE sister of a holidaymaker who went missing after going for a swim on a Greek island today said her family feared she was dead.

Vanessa O'Rourke said hopes were fading that her sister Yvonne Heys, 51, of Darwen, would be found alive after she was last seen in Rhodes on July 25.

Miss Heys, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and a friend were on holiday in Afandou.

The friends, who had been staying at the Afandou Silivia Hotel Studios, went to the beach for the day.

Miss Heys said she was going for a swim and failed to meet her friend, as arranged, later that evening.

Yvonne's friend last saw her at 7pm. She was wearing a yellow swimsuit, light grey shorts with one pink pinstripe down the outside, and blue and white Nike trainers. She was carrying a white bath towel.

The pair were due to fly back to Manchester on Wednesday August 6 and Yvonne's passport and return ticket are in the possession of the Greek police.

Mrs O'Rourke, 46, of Hill Street, Baxenden, said: "They've checked all the hospitals out there and put posters around the area she went missing but so far nothing has turned up.

"As each day goes by it's looking worse. It's such a horrible time for us. It's bad enough when something like this happens in Britain but when it's abroad it's a totally different ball game.

"We all feel so helpless as there's nothing we can do but wait. We've thought about going over there but it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"The authorities over there seem to be doing all they can."

Mrs O'Rourke said her sister was a keen and strong swimmer but she had heard the waters around Rhodes had strong currents. Mrs O'Rourke, who has two other sisters, Angela Smith, of Accrington, and Tanya Wild, of Warwickshire, said Miss Heys, of Pickup Bank, Darwen, was diagnosed with her condition around 20 years ago and she had "her ups and downs".

Police have said they are worried Miss Heys was missing without any money or her medication.

She said: "I last saw her about four weeks ago just before she left and she seemend pretty good. She said she wanted to get away for a while and was going on holiday with an acquaintance.

"She can keep on top of her condition with her medication but as time goes on, and in those temperatures, we are increasingly worried."

Miss Heys and her friend had been staying at the Afandou Silivia Hotel Studios and were due to fly back to England on August 6.

Detective Inspector Simon Giles, of Accrington Police, who is leading the investigation in England, said they were liaising with the Greek police, the British Embassy in Athens, the Btish Consulate in Rhodes and media on the island.

Anyone with any information should contact him on 01254 353743.