THE York sister of a student nurse missing for nearly five months says her Christmas wish is that she will walk through the door tomorrow.

But Fran Kerton, sister of missing Louise, says she knows it is unlikely to happen.

Louise, 24, and from Kent, disappeared as she made her way back to Britain after visiting the German home of her fiance's family last July.

The last reported sighting of her was in August.

But her sister, Fran, who works at the University of York, said her family will be hoping she joins them on Christmas Day.

"It's going to be very difficult," she said. "There will always be, in the background, the hope that she will turn up - just walk through the door - although, of course, we know that's very unlikely."

Fran and her family have spent the last five months searching for Louise, including many trips over to Germany, where they have scoured the streets in their search.

Last month, they hired a private investigator after becoming disillusioned with the efforts of the German police.

The family discovered police in Aachen, home to Louise's fiance's family, had been looking for the wrong person until earlier this month.

Fran said: "The private investigator has been trying to find out the discrepancies in the German police's inquiries, and point out that he is there.

"He has also had contact with the Foreign Office and there has certainly been a bit more political interest in Britain about the case.

"It's been hard since Louise went missing, but Christmas will be particularly bad. We always have a family Christmas, and Louise is always there.

"We are all going to find it difficult."

Louise was a schoolmate of Lucie Blackman, who was found dead earlier this year after going missing in Japan.

Lucie's family have been helping the Kertons during their search.

Updated: 10:33 Monday, December 24, 2001