IT will be a search for justice not revenge. That was the pledge made by the parents of murdered Southampton teenager Hannah Foster as they announced plans to visit India, the country where the prime suspect in their daughter's killing is thought to be at large.

As revealed in yesterday's Daily Echo, Hilary and Trevor Foster will spend 11 days in the Punjab region making a personal plea to people to help find them their daughter's killer.

The couple, from Portswood, Southampton, will hold press conferences, meet with Indian police officers and officials from the High Commission in a bid to breathe new life into the investigation.

During the trip a dedicated phone line will also be launched to encourage people to ring a 24-hour hotline, manned by bi-lingual operators, with information that could lead to the arrest of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli.

The idea was the brainchild of the couple in their effort to do what they could to help apprehend Kohli who has not been seen since he fled to India two days after the discovery of 17-year-old Hannah's body in a hedgerow in Allington Lane, West End.

The move was a response to the couple's frustration at the apparent lack of progress in the investigation being led in India despite a reward of five million rupees, equivalent to about £65,000, being on offer.

Mr Foster, 53, said: "I think there was at the start an issue of vengeance but I think now that feeling is reducing. If it wasn't that would bring us down to the same level as him.

"What we want now is justice, that will mean a lot to us and a lot to Hannah."

His wife, 47, said: "We are not police officers, we are Hannah's parents. It has reached a point that for some reason the investigation doesn't seem to be progressing as 15 months later Kohli still has not been found.

"So we asked ourselves what can we do as parents to help the inquiry."

Mr Foster added: "We are increasingly frustrated that the prime suspect has not been located. We are, however, beginning to understand the difficulties of finding a fugitive who does not want to be found in a country as large and populous as India."

The Fosters sought advice and support for their idea from Tim Blackman, the Isle of Wight businessman whose daughter Lucie was murdered in Japan four years ago.

By their side at a press conference yesterday, Mr Blackman spoke of his admiration for the couple with whom he has been in contact based on their experience of similarly tragic circumstances.

He backed the idea after the Fosters made contact several months ago with the idea that he pioneered when his own daughter was killed abroad.

Mrs Foster spoke of their need to embark on the personal journey to the country where the investigation is now based.

"We feel this is the time to appeal direct to the public in India."

In a personal plea she added: "I think we are asking for people to search their conscience if there is any information that they have got then they should come forward."

Mr Foster's employers BG Group, part of the British Gas empire, will be running the 24-hour phone line.

He added: "We want to make sure there is no obstacle to people coming forward with information. Information is the key to this inquiry."

The couple will be accompanied during their visit from July 10 to 21 by Det Supt Alan Betts, who has led the inquiry into Hannah's murder in Southampton.