Detectives are offering a £10,000 reward for information about a Polish student who went missing from Hammersmith more than 15 years ago.

Iwona Kaminska, 20, vanished without a trace on Thursday (July 13) 2000, just four days after arriving in London from Poland.

Officers believe she was kidnapped and possibly murdered, and are appealing for information in exchange for a substantial reward providing it leads to the successful arrest and prosecution of the person, or people responsible, for her disappearance.

Her distraught family has joined the appeal, on what would have been her 36th birthday, on Friday (January 22), to encourage new witnesses to come forward and speak to police.

Speaking from his home town in Moliborzyce, Poland, devoted father, Jan Kaminski; said: “We have endured 15 years of utter heartache.

“Iwona was excited to be visiting London to see friends and improve her English language.

“She was in constant contact with her family and adored her brother and sister.

“No contact from Iwona was out of character and we instantly knew something had happened to her.

“Someone took her from us all those years ago and we need answers to move forward with our lives.

“Today (22.1.16) is Iwona’s birthday and she should be celebrating turning 36. Instead of celebrating we have spent 15 years longing to hear from our lovely daughter.”

Ms Kaminska arrived in the UK on Sunday (July 9), 2000, and went straight to visit a friend close to the Arndale Centre in Wandsworth.

With plans to tour the capital and improve her English, she had also been put in contact with a Polish-owned business in King Street in Hammersmith.

She worked casual shifts at a shop premises and had been at the venue packing drinking glasses on the day of her disappearance.

At around 7pm she failed to arrive to meet her friend back in Wandsworth, and a missing persons report was filed the next day.

Following previous appeals police are aware that Iwona would usually leave the shop in Hammersmith at 5pm, and board the 220 bus from Hammersmith bus station to Wandsworth.

CCTV footage from July 13, 2000 shows her travelling to work in the morning, in Hammersmith, but she was never captured on any local cameras again.

Iwona is described as white, 5ft 2in tall, with light-brown, curly shoulder-length hair.

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

Leading the investigation, DC Nicola Williams of the Met’s Special Casework Investigation Team, said: “After 15 years we have no choice but to fear the worst for Iwona.

“We have conducted several appeals over the years but now, 15 years on, hope that someone who was unable to contact us before will be able to assist now. “We hope the reward of £10,000 and the courageous words of Iwona’s family will urge someone with that last vital clue will speak to us.”

Anyone with any information should call the Incident Room on 020 7230 4294; or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.