SCORES of East Lancashire families were today still awaiting news from families and friends caught up in the tsunami which has devastated south-east Asia.

The death toll was today at more than 23,000 with around a dozen Britons confirmed dead. Rescuers fear numbers will continue rising after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake on Boxing Day - the world's biggest in 40 years - led to massive waves which swept thousands to their deaths.

One East Lancashire family today spoke of their horror at hearing the news, fearing the death of their Malaysian-based son.

Linda and Ted Heys, of Barrowford, said they got a lump in their throats fearing for their son who had moved to Kuala Lumpur eight years ago.

Linda, 55 and Ted, 67, said from the family home in Cromwell Crescent they feared the worst. Linda added: "I was frozen when I heard the news and rang Nicky straight away. He assured me he was too far in land to have been badly affected."

But the couple also have friends on the Malaysian islands of Langkwai and Penang - both badly damaged by the tidal waves which followed the earthquake - and still have no way of knowing if their friends are dead or alive.

After visits to the coast with their son over the last eight years the couple said they had become firm friends with locals.

Linda added: "We were in Langkwai just five weeks ago and if it had happened a bit earlier we would have been there, but we don't communicate with our friends throughout the year we just catch up when we are there.

"I don't know how or when we will know if they are alive unless Nicky hears something on the grapevine. We are just left dangling."

Ex-Colne Primet High School pupil Nicky, who works as an architect in Malaysia, revealed how his girlfriend had planned to be in a resort devastated by the tsunami - but couldn't get the time off work.

He said his girlfriend, Lian Leehar, who he met while living in Kuala Lumpur, may not be with him if he had got time off.

He said: "I really wanted to come home to Barrowford for Christmas to see my mum and dad but I couldn't get time off work. And my girlfriend was going to visit Penang and she would have undoubtedly been there but would she be here now? I just doesn't bear thinking about.

"I feel lucky things happened for us the way they did. I had even provisionally booked a ticket but had to cancel it.

"There are so many 'what if's' that it's scary. We did feel the tremors here but thankfully that was all."

Nicky, 31, spoke of the dampened Christmas spirit that swept across the area as many of his friends received phone calls telling them of lost family members.

He added: "We were out on Boxing day night celebrating, as you do at this time of the year, and my friend got a call saying his mum had been swept away in the tidal wave. It's horrendous and he is one of so many. I keep hearing of more and more.

"I have also had so many calls from people I haven't spoken to in years wondering if I'm OK.

"We always go to the islands on the West because they are beautiful but it makes you a little cautious, you just can't control these things."

Rescuers were today still uncovering bodies with thousands of people still missing in their search along flood-ravaged coasts in at least eight countries across Asia.

And UK tourist chiefs believe around 10,000 holiday makers could be affected by the disaster.

The first flights from the stricken region carrying holidaymakers were expected to arrive at Manchester airport today.

The Foreign Office has set up a helpline for those awaiting news on 0207 008 0000 and is advising against any travel to the Maldives, affected parts of Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia and Thailand.