Police have released new CCTV images of runaway schoolgirl Megan Stammers and her 30-year-old maths teacher taken as the two boarded a ferry to Calais from Dover last week.
The release comes as Jim Forrest, the father of the teacher Jeremy Forrest, defended his son, calling him a "gentle and caring person".
“I am worried about Jeremy; I am not worried about Megan," said Jim Forrest. "I can tell you my son is one of the most gentle, caring people you will ever meet. I worry for him more than Megan in case he flips.”
In one of the pictures the pair are seen hand in hand on the Dover to Calais route at 9.30pm last Thursday.
Megan, 15, and 30-year-old Jeremy Forrest have sparked a pan-European search, prompting frantic appeals by her family in Eastbourne, East Sussex, to make contact.
In the images the two are seen holding hands
Police said that although they entered France, it was possible they were elsewhere as they renewed their plea to the public to come forward with sightings.
"We are releasing this photo to show Megan and Jeremy's appearance at the time they travelled to France as we believe it will improve the public's ability to recognise the pair together," Sussex police's chief inspector Jason Tingley said.
"Although they entered France, it is possible that they are elsewhere now. Therefore our objectives are to identify where they are and for them to contact us, so we can bring Megan home safely."
It came after it emerged friend of missing 15-year-old Stammers allegedly warned school staff about her relationship with her married maths teacher, seven months before the two ran away to France, after they were seen holding hands on a school trip.
Stammers was apparently spied hand-in-hand with Forrest on the plane home from a five-day-visit to Los Angeles with the school.
Her parents have always denied they had been told anything about the pair's relationship.
A spokesman from East Sussex County Council admitted that the school had been aware of concerns about the teacher's relationship with Megan, but would not confirm for how long.
The Daily Mail reported that Forrest had been "under investigation for several months and was expected to be suspended last Friday, the day after the pair vanished."
Jeremy Forrest, performing under the name "Jeremy Ayre"
It also reported that wannabe musician Forrest had written a song, Better Company, referring to the hand-holding incident.
In it, he sings: "Sitting on the plane, we were miles away from the things you hate, but girl I'd do it all again, I'd hold your hand, put up with the friend, don't think that I won't."
The local MP, Liberal Democrat Stephen Lloyd, defended the school, saying its inquiries into the concerns raised about Megan and Forrest would have been conducted in an "exemplary manner".
He said: "We are all praying that the sooner Megan comes back to Eastbourne the better. I have spoken to Bishop Bell and I have had a briefing with the police.
"I know Bishop Bell well and I'm confident that their procedures have been exemplary. I'm glad that they are conducting a report into this and I look forward to seeing that once it is completed."
As an online campaign to find Megan continued, her stepfather Martin Stammers tweeted people to "leave the politics to Sussex Police" and to keep the focus on finding her.
Officers believe friends might hold clues about where Megan and Forrest might be. Chief Inspector Tingley said they should not feel scared of divulging information not previously disclosed.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We do know that (Megan) has spoken about perhaps going somewhere but we just need to get really into the specific detail of that."
Megan had drawn up an online Bucket List - a compilation of goals someone wants to achieve before they die - in which she crossed out "fall in love" and "have someone write a song about me".
The list of 50 things she wants to do before she dies also revealed her hopes to write a book, fly in a hot air balloon, meet singer Lana Del Rey, go to Glastonbury Festival - and get married.
On her profile, she says she likes to be referred to as "Meg" or "Megzy", and writes about her dream of becoming a musical theatrical actress.
She adds: "I adore music, high fashion, art, photography, blogging, tattoos, make-up, graphic design, travelling, writing, reading and Marilyn Munroe."