FEARS were growing today for the safety of an East Lancashire man who is in hiding in strife-torn East Timor.

Freelance reporter Christopher Wenner - brother-in-law of award-winning TV writer Debbie Horsfield - is believed to have been one of the last journalists to leave the embattled UN compound in the ravaged capital of Dili.

His wife, Liz, said her husband had fled to the hills with freedom fighters after breaking out of the compound.

Mr Wenner, a former Stonyhurst College pupil whose family live in Slaidburn, is covering the conflict for the Times newspaper and ITN.

His teenage son, Ben, was on holiday with his father, but flew home last week as the fighting intensified.

Mr Wenner comes from a multi-talented family of diplomats, journalists and writers.

His father, Michael, is an ex-diplomat who has written a book about his experiences and his sister-in-law is Debbie Horsfield, whose current TV series is the BBC One Sunday night drama Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll.

She said today: "Christopher was one of the first journalists to bring the plight of the people of East Timor to the world.

"He has been in difficult situations before but this is probably the most hazardous time he has faced.

"We have had some contact but it is very patchy at the moment but we are all extremely proud of him.

"Christopher is very, very committed to the cause of the people of East Timor and he is willing to risk his life for their cause."

Christopher's wife, Liz, a TV producer, said: "I spoke to Christopher on Thursday just as he was about leave the UN compound.

"He is very committed to the cause of the people of East Timor and I am sure he will be protected by the freedom fighters over there.

"He has been in dangerous places before but things are particularly bad over there at the moment. "All we can do is pray for his safe return because he will stay out there as long as necessary and will do everything he can to support the East Timor people and their fight for independence."

Christopher won an award in 1994 for covering a massacre in East Timor when he was caught up in a crowd of 200 people who were fired on by soldiers.

He has also covered conflicts in Beirut, El Salvador and most of the world's trouble spots over a 20-year career.

A spokesman for Stonyhurst College said the pupils were praying for Mr Wenner's safety.

He said: "Christopher has consistently campaigned on behalf of the East Timorese and was one of the first western journalists to expose the plight of these people at the hands of the Indonesian Government.

"Christopher is one of four Wenner boys to have studied at the college, following their father who was UK ambassador to El Salvador before he retired."

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