The ex-husband of a British woman facing four years in a Dubai jail for taking prescribed painkillers has spoken of her worsening state.

Tracy Wilkinson, 44, a sports therapist, has spent seven weeks in prison in the United Arab Emirates after being arrested while on holiday because of a mistake on her passport.

The mother-of-two from Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, was then asked for a urine sample, which showed traces of codeine and temazepam, prescribed by her GP, in her body.

But to her horror, she was told by officials in the UAE that codeine was a banned substance in the Arab state.

Although she was not actually carrying the drug, she has been told it is an offence to have traces of the painkiller in her system.

The Foreign Office has been working to win her release and her ex-husband, retired police officer Robin Wilkinson, 50, said she could be freed on Saturday.

Mr Wilkinson, from Handcross, said: "She appeared in court last Saturday but the case was adjourned for another week. There is so much red tape. First the GP report had to be translated and then they wanted proof the GP was a doctor.

"Tracy is very down and is getting tired. She's in a bad way but she'll pull through it. She's a strong lady."

Mr Wilkinson said he was confident his ex-wife would be released.

He said: "I have been assured by the British Embassy out there that everything is being done that can be done. I think we have to go with the system out there and accept it."

Mr Wilkinson said his ex-wife had been travelling to Dubai for many years.

He said: "She's still on her own out there but I am sure she's had visits from her friends.

"We have been apart for years now but we remain good friends. I have been tempted to go to Dubai but I have been told there is nothing I can do. We are looking forward to her getting home."

Mr Wilkinson said he and Tracy's teenage children, Robert, 18, and Kate, 19, both from a previous marriage, were extremely worried about her health.

Ms Wilkinson, who runs the Balcombe Osteopath and Sports Injury Clinic, is known as the woman with the "magic touch" and has treated top sportsmen, including members of the Brighton Bears Basketball team.

One of her former clients is Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames, who has joined the campaign to free her.

In the UK, there were calls from campaign group Fair Trials Abroad (FTA) for the Government to do more to secure her immediate release.

FTA director Stephen Jacobi said: "Dubai is trying very hard to promote itself as a nice, safe place and so this case should be taken very seriously indeed. The UAE should realise how important it is to their tourism trade."

Ms Wilkinson told reporters the UAE authorities had refused to let her go.

She said: "I'm an emotional wreck. I've developed dysentery and caught head lice.

"They just won't believe me. I've had reports from my doctor sent over but they say they want them translated into Arabic."

In Balcombe, villagers were shock at Ms Wilkinson's arrest.

Emma Williams, 32, a former nanny to Ms Wilkinson's two children, said her detention was the talk of the village.

Ms Williams, a barmaid, said: "I am shocked this has happened. I have known her for several years and she was always very anti drugs."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed Ms Wilkinson would be reappearing in court in Dubai on Saturday.

She has had access to a lawyer, who is in touch with her GP.