Relatives of a brother and sister poisoned by fumes during a holiday went to Parliament to launch a campaign to end the nightmare of holidays from hell.

Gary Maher, from Patcham, Brighton, died aged 26. His sister Sheree, who was in a coma for five months, remains confined to a wheelchair after the tragedy in Tenerife 17 years ago.

They were overcome with fumes when their apartment was filled with carbon monoxide from a faulty gas heater.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, their mother Molly Maher helped to set up the charity Consumer Safety International to help relatives of other victims who have died or been injured in holiday accidents.

Yesterday, Mrs Maher and her niece Elaine Mines, 44, from Bognor, were at the House of Commons to launch an appeal for a phone helpline to assist British tourists abroad.

The charity has won the backing of many MPs and the launch was hosted by TV presenter John Stapleton.

Mrs Mines said: "There have been many other tragedies like this and we are trying to get a properly-funded independent victim helpline.

"Many families go away, have brilliant holidays and return safe but when it becomes a nightmare, the families have nowhere to turn. It is shocking.

"Many holidaymakers will be going abroad this summer not realising the hazards they face in hotels without fire escapes, unsafe or highly infectious swimming pools, dangerous balconies and apartments with heaters giving out deadly fumes."

Other families who have suffered a holiday tragedy also met MPs at Westminster to back the charity, which also wants funding to send consultants out to holiday resorts where dangers are reported.

Mrs Mines of Cavendish Road, Bognor, who does administrative work for the charity, said: "There are a lot of cover-ups after these tragedies.

"After the accident to Gary, who was 26, and Sheree, who was 21 at the time, the authorities even tried to make out it had been a suicide pact.

"With a helpline we can offer assistance to families but also try to prevent accidents taking place by learning about problems and lobbying for inspections and safety warnings."