February 2, 2001 16:08: The father of missing Polish student Iwona Kaminska has made an emotional appeal for information about the whereabouts of his daughter who disappeared six months ago.

At a press conference at New Scotland Yard on Tuesday, Jan Kaminski spoke of his familys anguish since she went missing last July.

He said: I would appeal for anyone who knows what has happened to our daughter to help us. Our family is suffering at the moment. We are like a table with a missing leg. We just want someone to tell us where she is.

A £10,000 reward has been offered to help find Miss Kaminska, who disappeared on her way back to a friends flat in Wandsworth on July 13.

The 20 year old had been staying in Sudbury Towers, near the Arndale Centre, when she disappeared and despite repeated appeals from the police, her family and friends, officers investigating the case are no closer to knowing her fate.

She had only been in London four days when she disappeared and was last seen leaving work in King Street, Hammersmith, at 5pm on July 13, where she had found work in a Polish-run glass shop.

The theology student, who spoke no English and had never visited England before, was expected back at her friends flat around 7pm but did not arrive.

On the day she went missing, Iwona took the 220 bus from the Arndale Centre to Hammersmith station and CCTV footage in Hammersmith shows her going to work that morning but not taking her usual route back in the evening.

DCI Paul McAleenan from the Serious Crime Group at Earlsfield is in charge of the investigation.

He said: As time has passed nothing has eased our worries as to what may have happened to Iwona.

We fear the worst and have to conclude it is increasingly likely that she has either been murdered or held somewhere against her will.

This has been an awful time for Iwonas family in Poland, who are having to confront every parents worst fears without the answers that may help them begin to live the rest of their lives.

He added: We hope this reward and the publicity surrounding these fresh appeals may encourage someone to come forward and tell us what happened to their daughter.

Iwona is white, 5ft 2in, slim, with light brown curly, shoulder length hair.

She was last seen wearing dark trousers, black shoes, a dark green knee length jacket and carrying a small black leather handbag.

The reward has been jointly put by a Polish company and the Metropolitan Police.

Anyone with any information that may help the investigation into Iwonas disappearance should contact the incident room at Earlsfield on 020 8247 8265 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By.Daniel Judge