THE father of a student who disappeared in the Himalayas 34 years ago has said he is "encouraged" by the response to a new online campaign to find his daughter.

Reverend Kenny Macdonald, 80, and his wife Reta, 77, put up their life-savings of £20,000 three months ago in a bid to try and track down Alison.

Despite their appeal getting widespread publicity, posters reproduced in several languages, and over 5,200 "likes" on Facebook, it has not yet unearthed a lead.

But the couple say they are convinced their daughter, who was just 19 when she vanished while on holiday with a friend, is still alive.

"We have had a lot of response to the online campaign but as yet no information about Alison," said her father, Reverend Kenny Macdonald, 80.

"It is in the Lord's hands and in some strange way we feel very encouraged. We certainly have not given up hope and remain convinced Alison is alive."

Ms Macdonald, who was from the Isle of Lewis but was studying at Aberdeen University at the time, disappeared after she and her friend Liz Merry, who later became a GP in Scotland, reached the village of Sonamarg, 9,000ft up in the Himalayas.

While Ms Merry went off on a two-day trip to see the Kolahoi glacier, Ms Macdonald stayed behind.

On August 17, 1981, she went for a walk, and was last seen buying apples from a trader. Her clothes and rucksack were found in her room, and her disappearance was relayed to her family six days later.

Mr Macdonald and his wife Reta, now 77, have made 17 trips to the region, which is embroiled in a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.

Her father, a retired Free Church of Scotland minister who now lives in Golspie, Sutherland, believes she was kidnapped.

Kashmiri police closed the case after failing to find any clues as to what happened to her.

Her disappearance made headlines again in 2007 when the inquiry was reopened after new evidence emerged, thought to be linked to the case.

A tape of a prominent Kashmiri rebel appeared to feature him speaking English with a Scottish accent, prompting unproven suggestions that he may have been taught by Ms Macdonald.

Mr Macdonald, who is registered blind and suffers from multiple sclerosis, said: "I still have some eyesight left and I am willing to travel to India or wherever to find her. I am sure she is still alive and I pray that I will be able to see Alison again one day, hopefully soon."