TWO York sweethearts were missing today after their Thai holiday island was devastated by the Asian tsunami.

The families of Sarah Emily Bent, 19, and her boyfriend, Robert William Rowbottom, 21, revealed they had not heard from them since Christmas Day.

The couple, both from York, were staying at the Charlie Beach Resort on the island of Koh Phi Phi, off Thailand, over Christmas, when the disaster struck.

Miss Bent, from Copmanthorpe, whose parents, Paul and Yvette, work for City of York Council, had been studying travel and tourism at Northumbria University, and had jetted out to Bangkok to meet up with Robert, who is from near Pocklington, for the Christmas festivities, when the tsunami hit on Boxing Day.

Mr Rowbottom graduated this summer from Newcastle University with a BSc in agri-business.

He is a former pupil at St Peter's School in York, while his girlfriend attended Tadcaster Grammar School and Queen Margaret's School at Escrick.

In a statement, the families said: "Robert and Sarah were both having a fantastic holiday and last spoke to their families on Christmas day.

"Robert was taking a gap year and travelling around South-East Asia and Australia. Sarah flew out to Bangkok on December 9 to spend Christmas and New Year with him before flying back from Singapore on January 1 to resume her studies, whilst Robert was flying on to Australia.

"Both families have been helping each other and have also had enormous support from their families and friends. They have also appreciated the help and support from Australian friends Scott and Sue Wilson and their family, who live in Bangkok.

"Sue and Scott were staying on Koh Lanta and survived the tidal wave and since then have been tireless in their efforts to find Sarah and Robert.

"The support and care that both families have received from the Thai people and embassy staff in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi has been tremendous."

Updated: 09:41 Friday, December 31, 2004