Christopher Rochester, 24, of Chester-le-Street, died from internal bleeding after being left unattended on a hospital trolley while on holiday in Faliraki in June 2000.

His parents won their protracted battle for justice earlier this year when one of three hospital doctors was convicted of manslaughter through negligence.

But they now want the Greek authorities to accept that their son's kidney was removed illegally during the autopsy and that the organ, subsequently sent to Britain, belonged to someone else, as revealed by an independent DNA test.

The Greeks have said they will accept the results of an independent test but recently insisted DNA samples are inadequate and that new ones should be taken by digging up Mr Rochester's body.

Christopher's mother and stepfather, Pam and George Cummings, held a private meeting on Friday with a representative of the Greek ambassador, police, scientists and North Durham MP Kevan Jones.

Afterwards Mr Cummings said: "We are hopeful that the Greeks will withdraw their request to exhume Chris and accept that we have enough evidence to prove what we are saying.

"If they do not accept this and the Greek authorities still continue their request to exhume Chris, then that exhumation will take place.

"We will give them anything they want because if we refuse they will say that we are not co-operating and they will close the case."