THE parents of Hampshire schoolgirl Rosemary Edwards are battling to lead a normal life as they wait for news of their missing daughter.

David Edwards and his wife Jennifer are determined to carry on for the sake of their other two children, Robert, 17, and 19-year-old Lucy.

Rosemary, 15, disappeared after a family argument and has now been missing for more than a week.

She is said to have been in a distressed state when she slipped out of the family home at Wellington Close, Dibden Purlieu, on the night on September 4-5.

However, Mr Edwards believes his daughter is still alive, partly because no body has been found.

He told the Daily Echo: "On the evening before she disappeared she had a bath and washed her hair, which makes me think she wasn't intending to do anything silly."

Mr Edwards, a 52-year-old electronics consultant, also spoke of the physical and emotional toll that Rosemary's disappearance was having on the family.

He said: "I didn't sleep for the first three nights after she went missing.

"We're sleeping a bit better now but that's only as a result of fatigue. Breaking down in tears all the time is absolutely exhausting."

Mr Edwards described the past week as the toughest of his life but added: "We must start trying to get back to leading some sort of a normal life."

Rosemary is a prefect at Noadswood School, Dibden Purlieu.

Yesterday, deputy head teacher Jane Lancaster, described by police as Rosemary's mentor, appeared at a televised press conference and urged the teenager to get in touch.

Mrs Lancaster, 49, said: "Rosemary, I don't know what has been going on over the summer but I think you are someone who feels and thinks deeply about what happens in your life.

"I know you might feel it is all too difficult but I would like you to contact me or someone you feel safe to talk to so that they can listen to you.

"Rosemary, just ask yourself again, might it not be better to talk? Phone the school or someone you feel safe to talk to."

A police spokesman said Rosemary could phone the search team on 0845 045 4545 or call the national missing person's helpline on 0808 800 7070.