A COUPLE who were missing and feared dead in Sri Lanka are safe and well and are helping with the relief effort, it was revealed today.

The family of Shaw and Val Lingham also revealed how relatives had been targeted by tsunami email hoaxer Christopher Pierson, who told them their loved ones were dead.

The couple's desperate relatives had posted a message for them on a website when they failed to get in touch after the disaster. Their names failed to appear on a tourist board list of survivors and neighbours said they feared the worst.

But today it was revealed the couple have contacted relatives to tell of their dramatic escape and are in the country helping relief workers.

Fears were also growing today for the safety of Nelson backpacker Keven Wingfield, who has not been in touch with his family since before Christmas.

The Metropolitan Police and the Foreign Office are searching for the 31-year-old, of York Street, who was in the Penang area of Malasia. The chef has been travelling around south east Asia for ten months.

The Linghams, of Brownhill Avenue, Burnley, were on the beach in the port city of Trincomalee when the first wave hit last week.

The original website message was picked up by Pierson, who sent 35 letters to families claiming to be a Government official telling them their loved ones were dead.

Pierson, from Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to public nuisance and malicious communication at Horseferry Road magistrates court, London, on Monday, and was remanded to a secret address until January 24.

Today Shaw's nephew Kevin Webb, who lives in Bristol, told of his relief that the couple were alive.

Kevin said: "They are alive and well. They were on the beach, but managed to scramble to safety three floors up in a hotel.

"They've decided to stay out there to help with the aid effort."

The pair were on a three-month trip to the island to visit relatives there. They have now moved to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on the south west coast.

Kevin said: "There were bodies everywhere for days after and the smell was atrocious - that's why they have gone to Colombo.

"My uncle is from Fiji and is bilingual. He speaks English and also good Indian so he feels he can help somewhere with the relief effort."