Father tells of new hope in search for Claudia

Peter Lawrence revealed that detectives involved in the North Yorkshire Police murder inquiry are investigating undisclosed new information that has emerged from the public after renewed media appeals were made during the festive season.

Speaking yesterday, 10 months since his daughter was last seen, Mr Lawrence said that keeping the case in the spotlight was key.

A series of publicity events are being planned, including an awareness day in York on Friday, February 26, the eve of Miss Lawrence's 36th birthday.

Mr Lawrence, 63, a solicitor from Slingsby in North Yorkshire, said: "We need to keep the awareness up that Claudia is still missing, and hopefully this will trigger the key piece of information we are all hoping for.

"I have learnt throughout all of this that it takes longer for that person with important information to come forward than you would expect.

"The family managed to get through Christmas, although it was a very difficult time. But New Year was a time of renewed hope and I sincerely hope that we will have a resolution to all of this soon."

Miss Lawrence was last seen walking close to her home in Heworth Road in York on the afternoon of March 18 last year, and detectives upgraded the missing person inquiry to a murder investigation the following month.

The North Yorkshire Police inquiry team has been focusing on the missing York University chef's complex personal life, in which she had relationships with married men.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.