Claudia’s father in plea to race-goers

THE father of Claudia Lawrence will address thousands of race-goers today in the missing chef’s home city as he makes another plea to end his heartache.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th May 2011, 07:00 BST

Peter Lawrence, a solicitor from Slingsby in North Yorkshire, will be at York Racecourse for the opening day of the Dante Festival to make the appeal for information to punters in the parade ring more than two years after his daughter vanished.

There will also be a poster of Miss Lawrence inside each race card.

Martin Dales, Mr Lawrence’s friend and spokesman, said: “Peter is very grateful to William Derby and all at York races for continuing to give support to him in trying to find Claudia – she loved riding and was a regular attendee at York races.”

Two years ago at the Dante Festival, Mr Lawrence left a space for his daughter at the lunch-table as she was meant to be there. Miss Lawrence, then aged 35, was last seen walking near her home on March 18, 2009. North Yorkshire Police upgraded the missing person inquiry to a murder investigation the following month.