FRIENDS posted birthday wishes online for a Russian student who has been missing in Scotland for four months.

Edinburgh University graduate Yulia Solodyankina turned 23 at the end of September and the milestone was marked on Facebook where volunteers have helped in the search.

The popular dancer disappeared shortly before she was due to graduate with a degree in physics on July 1.

Her disappearance prompted a huge response across the country and tens of thousands of young people were alerted through universities, colleges and student associations.

Many thousands of posters were put up by students in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as at bus and train stations and ports by her friends.

Officers investigating the disappearance of Ms Solodyankina yesterday made a continued appeal for information.

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 either 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 that Ms Solodyankina made to some of these areas.

Her parents, Ekaterina and Dmitry, also earlier made an impassioned plea for their only daughter to contact them if she received their message.

Police said that their investigation had established that Ms Solodyankina left Edinburgh of her own accord.