The sister of Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite has been found two days after she vanished from a Portuguese airport while 'intoxicated' and suffering from severe depression caused by her period.

The star, 30, from Chorley, Lancashire, who appeared in the 2012 series of the show, said his older sibling Victoria Cunningham had been taken in by a stranger in the Algarve and was 'very very distressed' - but sober.

She was reportedly 'too intoxicated' to get on the plane home at Faro Airport - and her partner allegedly boarded the plane with his children and left her behind in the terminal.

The star baker tweeted: 'She is alive, she is sober, but she is very very distressed (it seems she was found JUST in time).'

On Monday Mr Whaite put out an appeal find his sister after she went missing from Faro Airport - but to his delight she has now been found.

He also revealed she battles Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder [PMDD] each month - which leaves women with severe depression and anxiety in the week before their period starts.

John (pictured, left) made an appeal earlier this week after his sister, Victoria Cunningham (pictured, right) went missing in Portugal and has now revealed she has now been found

Mr Whaite told his Twitter followers that his sister had been found earlier this afternoon

In a follow up tweet, he said: 'We are now going to focus on getting her home and back in good health in the privacy and protection of our family.

'My gratitude to each one of you is undying. You've helped save a sister, a daughter and a mother - thank you.'

Mr Whaite said she was suffering form a hormonal-based illness known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

The cook - who used to present ITV show Chopping Block - tweeted an appeal to find his sister earlier in the week and said she left the airport in Faro with no passport on her.

He tweeted: 'My sister has gone missing from Faro Airport. We are all worried for her welfare. Portuguese police aren't interested in helping us search for her.'

Mr Whaite accused the Portuguese Police of doing nothing to help in the frantic search. But he said the British authorities are putting pressure on them to investigate.

Ms Cunningham (pictured) was missing in the Algarve without her passport, sparking a desperate plea from her brother on Twitter. She has now been found

The TV star previously shared this desperate plea with his followers on Twitter in the hope of bringing his sister home. She has now been found by a stranger

Mr Whaite said the British Consulate was putting pressure on the Portuguese police to find his sister

He posted four photos of his sibling on Twitter, adding: 'Her name is Victoria Cunningham. She has no passport with her. If you see her please tell her that her family just want her home safe and sound.'

Mr Whaite won the third series of the BBC programme. Faro is the main airport in the Algarve region used by tens of thousands of Brits every year.

What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and what are the symptoms? While most women with PMS find their symptoms uncomfortable, a small percentage have symptoms severe enough to stop them living their normal lives. This is the result of a more intense type of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The symptoms of PMDD are similar to those of PMS, but are more exaggerated and often have more psychological symptoms than physical ones. Symptoms can include: feelings of hopelessness

persistent sadness or depression

extreme anger and anxiety

decreased interest in usual activities

sleeping much more or less than usual

very low self-esteem

extreme tension and irritability As depression is a common symptom of PMDD, it's possible that a woman with PMDD may have thoughts about suicide. PMDD can be particularly difficult to deal with as it can have a negative effect on your daily life and relationships. Source: NHS choices Advertisement

He said the family is 'worried sick' and said she could pose a threat to her herself. Victoria has been diagnosed with depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder

The cook tweeted: 'Timeline for my sister: Saturday 11:05: Unable to board flight due to breakdown & intoxication (linked to diagnosed depression & PMDD).

'Boyfriend leaves her at Faro airport. Monday 13:90 (sic): due to board flight 7194 left by police @ check-in. Absconds w/o passport/£.'

He added: 'Apparently she headed towards a petrol station in Faro, leaving the airport trying to take a can of coke w/o payment (can therefore assume no money)

'My other sister Jane and friend Chris are flying out now to try and find her. I'll relay info from the UK'

He continued: 'She is vulnerable and could pose a risk only to herself. Family worried sick. Have informed consulate, UK police, Portuguese Police.'

He another Tweet he added: 'Yes she dumped her own passport. Yes she was intoxicated.

'Yes the Portuguese police have said they don't have to look for her unless she commits a crime.

'But she has a history of mental illness and suicide risk. This behaviour stems from diagnoses of depression and PMDD.'

British holidaymakers have been helping to try and track down the missing woman, with some sharing locations in which they claim to have spotted her.