POLICE have renewed their appeal for information about missing Russian student Yulia Solodyankina on the six-month anniversary of her disappearance.
Friends also appealed for anyone with information to contact the family of Edinburgh University graduate Ms Solodyankina in the run-up to Christmas as they face another major family event without her.
The disappearance of the popular dancer sparked a massive search involving thousands of student helpers.
Ms Solodyankina, whose 23rd birthday in September was marked by friends in an online campaign that was set up to help find her, also missed her graduation day in July.
As Christmas approaches there is still no word, although those leading a Facebook campaign to trace her have not given up hope she will be found and have issued fresh posts appealing for information.
Mary Laurenson appealed on the website: "Yulia, if you can read this please know your family and friends love you.
"If anyone knows where Yulia is, please let her parents and friends know, it's coming up to Christmas and we could really do with some really good news. Yulia you are loved."
Ms Solodyankina was last seen on CCTV at Buchanan Street bus station in Glasgow on Friday, June 7.
From there she is believed to have travelled north or to the far west of Scotland, with the most likely destinations being Fort William or Inverness.
Inquiries have also been made in other areas she may have travelled to by bus, including Largs, Campbeltown, Ardrishaig and Oban.
Police said these inquiries were based on previous visits made by Ms Solodyankina to some of these areas.
Tens of thousands of posters were put up by students in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as at bus and train stations and ports.
Her parents, Ekaterina and Dmitry, also earlier made an impassioned plea for their only daughter to contact them if she received their message.
Mr Solodyankina had expected to meet his daughter on his first trip to Edinburgh, but instead became involved in the search.
Police said earlier that their investigation had established Ms Solodyankina left Edinburgh of her own accord.
During the search a mobile cinema took the appeal across communities in the north of Scotland. One Facebook campaign member also arranged to have posters passed around the Western Isles by sailing clubs as the appeal spread.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police Scotland renews the appeal for any information about Yulia or her whereabouts to contact them on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Police also said that since Ms Solodyankina was reported missing officers had carried out extensive inquiries across Scotland.
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