THE father of a murdered North-East student yesterday called on people to light a candle on Christmas Eve in memory of his daughter.

Roy Cameron's appeal came as police released enhanced video footage of two men they want to trace as part of their investigation in the murder of Sara Cameron.

Sara, 23, was found dead in a field in Earsdon, North Tyneside, on Good Friday, in April 2000. She had been suffocated.

The Northumbrian University student, who was born in Finland, had been celebrating with friends in Newcastle on the night she was killed, after getting a job to work at the Sydney Olympic Games.

She was last seen taking a Metro train from Newcastle city centre to a station near her home on the outskirts of Whitley Bay.

The images, which have been improved by experts at the Ministry of Defence, show the men at Longbenton Metro station shortly before Ms Cameron was murdered.

Speaking at a Press conference, Mr Cameron said: "I still miss Sara terribly and think about her every minute of every day, as does her mother - especially at this time of the year."

Mr Cameron said the the family would be following a Finnish tradition by lighting a candle on Christmas Eve for loved ones. He called on other people to do the same in their own homes for Sara.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Bolam said the two men they wanted to trace sat in the same Metro carriage as Sara, passing her as they made their way through the train.

They got off before it reached Whitley Bay, but it is not known at which station.

One of the men was described as of slim to medium build, with short, dark hair, possibly receding. He was a cigarette smoker, probably left-handed, and athletic.

He wore a ski-type jacket with a yellow body, black sleeves and a yellow collar.

The other man was of slim to medium build with short, dark hair and was wearing a blue shirt, blue trousers or jeans, and dark shoes.