THE estranged father of nurse Shelley Whitfield has said her death has robbed him of the chance to heal their long-running rift.

Stuart Whitfield last night spoke of his anguish at being unable to say goodbye to the daughter he last spoke to four years ago - and to let her know how much he loved her.

Police believe the 21-year-old auxiliary nurse may have died from exposure after her body was found face down on playing fields, only 500 yards from her flat on the outskirts of Durham City last week.

Mr Whitfield told The Northern Echo: "I never got to make peace with Shelley - and that's what hurts so very much."

The 49-year-old, of High Hope Street, Crook, County Durham, said the last time the pair spoke was during a row four years ago.

He said: "I can't even remember what it was about, it was just daft. We shouted, we fell out and then she moved out.

"I haven't spoken to her since. We were just so stubborn. I am devastated because now it is too late."

Detectives are convinced Miss Whitfield caught the X49 bus from North Road station after spending last Tuesday in Durham City with a male friend.

They are appealing for fellow passengers on the 6pm service to help their investigation.

Although the route took her close to her home in St Agatha's Close, Brandon, she missed her stop and got off in Langley Moor High Street, as the bus looped back towards the city.

She got off at the bus shelter next to the Salvation Army hostel, then it is thought she headed home across playing fields behind Meadowfield Sports Centre. Her body was discovered at 6.50am the next day.

When she got off the bus, the driver called her back to tell her she had left behind her cream clutch bag, and she returned to collect it.

When her body was found the bag was missing, but it was found during a two-day fingertip search of the playing fields. It still contained her cash and credit cards.

Miss Whitfield, whose parents are divorced, worked at the University Hospital of North Durham. She leaves two younger sisters, 19-year-old Natalie and nine-year-old Tiffany.

A post-mortem examination proved inconclusive and police hope the results of toxicology tests may help confirm the cause of her death.

Anyone with information is asked to call Durham Police on 0845 6060365.