'Encouraging signs' as police continue search for Claudia - VIDEO

A FRIEND of the family of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence today visited the scene of the latest search operation and said it was encouraging the police were still looking for her.

Officers investigating the disappearance of Miss Lawrence, 36, were today continuing to search fields close to York University, where she worked in the kitchens.

Seven officers stretched in a line combed a newly ploughed field in the village of Heslington. They searched carefully, placing orange markers to guide them, and also examined hedges and bushes with long poles.

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Today was supposed to be the last of a three-day operation sparked by new information from the public.

But it is understood the team may stay longer to complete the search although nothing of interest has yet been found.

North Yorkshire Police said no digging is taking place at the scene.

Martin Dales - a friend of and spokesman for Miss Lawrence's father Peter - visited the scene this morning.

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He said: "I think the first thing to say is after a year it's obviously very encouraging that the police are still physically searching as well as doing all the work they're doing in the backroom on the computers and interviewing people.

"It's amazing after a year this information seems to have only just come out."

Solicitor Peter Lawrence has mounted a tireless campaign to find his daughter.

Mr Dales said: "All the time we're out there doing all this, the information is coming into the police so it makes what you're doing worthwhile, albeit incredibly hard to actually do, particularly for Peter, as Claudia's father."

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"We had quite a lot of false hopes raised by searches and information but it's all the information coming in that helps the police to build up a picture and it could be one thing that somebody out there knows that could resolve this for everybody."

He added: "The problem is the waiting and the sitting around, the waiting and wondering what's going to happen next. For instance, this happens (today's search) and that's another adrenaline rush and coming and being out here and talking to people.

"Some conclusion is needed and somebody out there knows exactly what's happened, and they will be found and she will be found. But it would be much easier if somebody made life easier both for the police and for the family and friends."

North Yorkshire Police said the latest search operation follows information received over the last few days.

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Land near a children's play area, accessed by a muddy farm track, was being searched yesterday.

The field being searched today is bordered by student accommodation and a playing field.

Miss Lawrence, 36, has been missing from her home in York for just over a year and police said they are treating her disappearance as a murder inquiry.

Last week detectives said they had received new information from a witness who said Miss Lawrence may have spent a night before she disappeared with a mystery man. Yesterday, they said this latest search was not connected to this lead.

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Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth, York, on March 18 last year.

She failed to arrive for work the following morning and police believe she may have come to harm at the hands of someone she knew.

Miss Lawrence was due to walk the three miles to work at York University on March 19 for a shift beginning at 6am but she never turned up.

She left her cards, cash and passport behind but her mobile phone - a silver Samsung D900 - and blue Karrimor rucksack in which she carried her chef's whites have yet to be located.