Emma's parents make fresh appeal

Emma's parents visited the spot where her body was found

The parents of Emma Caldwell have renewed their plea for help in catching her killer as they visited the place where her body was found.

They laid flowers in the wooded area, near Roberton in South Lanarkshire, where the 27-year-old woman's body was discovered four months ago.

Margaret Caldwell said: "Go into your heart, go into your conscience - if you know any clues at all, please do it."

Emma disappeared after leaving a hostel in Govanhill, Glasgow, in April.

The 27-year-old, from Erskine, in Renfrewshire, had turned to drugs after the death of her older sister Karen and funded her heroin habit by working as a prostitute.

Mrs Caldwell, who was accompanied by her husband William, said: "Please, there must be somebody out there that knows something, something that can help us help Emma. Justice for Emma."

Remote area

Mr Caldwell described their first visit to the scene as "very important".

He said: "It has been four months since Emma was found. We are here to help police. It's a very remote area and the police feel that maybe someone in the area can help.

"So we've come here today to ask for help."

The couple, both aged 57, shed tears as they placed a bouquet of pink roses and lilies at a spot near a path. A card attached read: "We love you and miss you. Mum and Dad."

Emma's body was found in a remote area about 30 miles from Glasgow and not far from the M74 motorway.

Mr Caldwell said he believes Emma's killer knew the area.

Police are still hunting for Emma Caldwell's killer

He said: "I found it difficult when we came here. I had no idea how remote this area was.

"They've come an awful long distance off the motorway to leave her body. So the feeling is they must know it."

Mrs Caldwell said it was possible the killer was someone who frequented the area as a child and added that the family was struggling to cope with Emma's death.

She said: "It's been very difficult and it will continue to be difficult but we are very strong as a family. I don't think it will ever be the same.

"It took us some time to come with the flowers. We found it very, very difficult because in one way we want to respect Emma and mark where Emma was, but on the other side of the coin this person has murdered our daughter and defiled the area."

The couple have already appealed for help on the BBC's Crimewatch programme and described Emma as a "beautiful daughter".