Peter Blanchard is now under investigation by York's Labour party over the remarks left on his page on social networking site Facebook.

Coun Blanchard, a former Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate who represents Heworth ward, where Claudia lives, has astonished party colleagues with his atheist comments.

Prayers have gone out from churches all over Yorkshire for Claudia, who has been missing for more than three weeks.

After a series of complaints Coun Blanchard has since deleted his comments and apologised unreservedly to the Lawrence family.

But he still faces an internal investigation by his party over the remarks which said that time would be better spent looking for her. The investigation will see if he broke any rules.

Fellow Heworth councillors have also reacted with fury.

Coun Tina Funnell said: "I totally and utterly distance myself from his comments and actually believe the polar opposite."

Coun Ruth Potter said: "I'm very concerned it will have caused upset to her family, friends and other people in the ward and I'm ashamed that this has happened. He brings us all into disrepute by saying things like that as we all get tarred by the same brush."

Heworth vicar Michael Woodmansey also said the comments were insensitive, adding: "Our prayers are supporting and strengthening her family at an inexpressible time of anxiety and stress. We will continue to offer prayers and in no way does that reduce the effectiveness of the search for Claudia."

Family friend Martin Dales said the remarks came at "an impossibly difficult and bewildering time".

Yesterday Claudia's father Peter Lawrence was at church in Malton.

Mr Dales added: "They are gaining much strength from, and feeling sustained by, the prayers of those who have a faith and the compassionate thoughts of those who do not."

Coun Blanchard said: "I wholeheartedly and un-reservedly apologise to the Lawrence family if this matter causes them further upset.

"That was certainly not my intention. I too want her to be found safe and well as quickly as possible. My posting reaffirmed this, and indeed raised further awareness of her disappearance.

"I am an atheist and secular activist, and, regretfully, in my comments on the post I did point out that I did not believe praying would achieve anything per se."

His Facebook page is not available to the public, he said.