THE parents of murdered student Hannah Foster have paid a poignant tribute to the team of Hampshire police officers hunting their daughter's killer.

Trevor and Hilary Foster have written an open letter to the Operation Springfield squad, praising every member's hard work and dedication to the inquiry.

A huge murder hunt was launched after the body of 17-year-old Hannah was discovered dumped in undergrowth at Allington Lane, West End, on Sunday, March 16.

Hannah had disappeared after an evening out with friends in Bevois Valley two nights earlier.

A post-mortem examination revealed the Barton Peveril College A-level student had been raped and strangled.

Police received a major breakthrough in the case following an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch UK programme, which identified a prime suspect.

The man, a 35-year-old father-of-two, is known to have flown to India two days after Hannah's body was found.

An arrest warrant is currently in the hands of the Indian police and a small team of Hampshire detectives is on stand-by to fly out once the man has been detained.

The Daily Echo is aware of the suspect's identity but is withholding details until he is formally named by police.

Now Hannah's parents, who have set up the Hannah Foster Fund to help local charities, have praised officers working on the murder investigation for being the "building blocks" holding them together.

In the letter, the couple, of Portswood, Southampton, who have a younger daughter Sarah, 14, wrote: "So far, we have met only a handful of the people who are involved in this investigation, but each and every one of them has inspired us by their professionalism, their commitment, their compassion for us as a grieving family, and, above all, their determination to bring Hannah's killer to justice.

"Through the patience and understanding of the family liaison officers, who have borne the brunt of our sometimes angry questions, we are beginning to understand the difficulties and frustrations of the work you have to do and why things can't always happen as quickly as you would want."

"We appreciate the long hours you must be working and the sacrifices you are having to make as a result, in terms of your own family life.

"We see each one of you as a building block holding us together at this difficult time."