THE case of missing Kent student nurse Louise Kerton is to be treated as a criminal investigation.

The move comes after senior Kent police officers returned from Germany following a further meeting with Aachen police to discuss her disappearance.

The breakthrough eases months of frustration for Louise's family who have been desperate to find out whether she is dead or alive. The public prosecutor in Aachen has agreed to record Louise's disappearance as a criminal investigation and will be responsible for directing it.

The 24-year-old from Broadstairs has not been seen since July last year when she failed to return home after visiting her fiance in Aachen. Her family, who live at New Ash Green, near Gravesend, have not seen her for a year.

Louise's father, Phil Kerton, said: "We have been pushing for this for six to eight months. We are keeping in touch with Kent Police and just hope we don't have to wait too long."

Det Insp David Lawson, who is heading the English end of the case, said: "This is a positive step. German police do not work the way we do, and up until now they have been treating the case as a missing person enquiry. They are controlled by the state prosecutor and will not treat a case as a crime unless he says so.

"A team from Kent Police presented the state prosecutor with a compelling dossier of evidence, and I am pleased to say he is taking the case further. This means he can order the police to search buildings, arrest people and follow key lines of enquiry."

DI Lawson said he could not disclose what the new evidence was but is hopeful the prosecutor will have more information within three to four weeks.