Family takes 'last trip' of missing nurse

Louise Kerton: Family fears for her safety

The parents of missing student nurse Louise Kerton will on Monday take a train from Germany to Belgium in an attempt to retrace their daughter's last known steps.

The 24-year-old, from Broadstairs, Kent, went missing after visiting her fiancé's mother in the Aachen region of Germany nearly two weeks ago.

On Sunday Mr Kerton accused Belgian police of not doing enough to find Louise, who had been a close schoolfriend Lucie Blackman, who was murdered while working as a hostess in Japan.

Louise was friends with Lucie Blackman, who was killed in Japan

Phil and Kathleen Kerton, along with their four other children, spent the weekend in Ostend giving out leaflets and talking to locals in shops and bars.

Louise disappeared after being dropped off at Aachen railway station in Germany to catch the train to the Belgian port.

Mr Kerton, 56, of New Ash Green, Kent said Belgian police had told him they will not start looking for his daughter until their German counterparts can prove she left their country.

He said: "We are extremely tired and frustrated. The Belgian police have everything in place, but will not start their search until the German police tell them to.

"They have a dossier on Louise ready, but through procedure cannot do anything to help as there is no proof she got on to that train."

But a police spokesman in Bruges denied this was the case.

He said: "We are searching for her. We have a team of investigators from our railway police in Ostend working on the case.

Advice from Blackman's

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was working with Louise's family and police in Kent, Belgium and Germany to find her.

The student nurse's sisters Angela, 29, of Plumstead, south east London, and Francesca, 27, of York, returned home on Sunday.

Mr Kerton, his wife Kathleen, 55, son Simon, 25, and daughter Marie, 16, travelled on to Aachen to meet German police.

During their trip back on Monday, they will also visit cities along the route which she could have stopped at, including Bruges, Brussels and Ghent.

Louise is very trusting and could have been taken in by someone

Phil Kerton
Father

The Kertons have been given advice by Lucie Blackman's father Tim.

Mr Kerton said: "We have spoken a number of times to both parents of Lucie who told us useful people to get in touch with for help."

Her family said Louise was devastated by Lucie's death and suffered from depression - although she had got over this.

'Trusting nature'

Mr Kerton fears her "trusting nature" had placed her in a dangerous situation and that she has been attacked.

He said: "The more time that goes by without any news the more worried we get.

"Louise is very trusting and could have been taken in by someone who said they could offer a lifestyle which can solve all her problems.

"People talk to each other on public transport outside of Britain, so if Louise met someone interesting she might have gone with them and a dangerous situation could have arisen.

"She could have been mugged walking about a dangerous part of town."

Anyone with information about her disappearance is asked to call Margate police on 01843 222127.