A SEARCH party of more than 50 family and friends is to travel to from the Kent village of New Ash Green to Germany on Friday to hunt for missing student nurse Louise Kerton.

Louise, 24, has not been since July 30 when she should have boarded a train from the German town of Aachen to Ostend, Belgium.

The Kerton family, who have made several unsuccessful trips to the continent to search for her, cited a lack of support from the German police force as the main reason for the launching the fresh journey.

A woman fitting Louise's description was spotted several times in Aachen last month but she has not come forward and fears for her safety are growing.

Her mother Kath, 55, a schoolteacher in Hartley, said: "The greatest concern is not knowing where she is and who is looking after her."

A frustrated Phil Kerton, 56, Louise's father, said: "Last Friday, we found out that the request from Aachen police for an interview with the Belgian train crew had only just got to Brussels Interpol and would then have to go to the Belgian prosecutors before getting to their place."

Louise, who lived in Broadstairs and studied at Christ Church College in Canterbury, had been staying with her fiance's mother, Ramana, near Euskirchen - 60km from Aachen.

Mr Kerton, head of information at Blue Circle's Technical Centre in Greenhithe, is trying to raise funds to cover the costs of their lengthy search. Anyone who can help should call the family on 01474 873802.