'Life without Claudia doesn't get any easier'

The mother of Claudia Lawrence, who disappeared in York 17 years ago, has said life without her "doesn't get any easier".

The chef, who was 35 at the time, was last seen and heard from on 18 March 2009 and was reported missing two days later, after failing to arrive for work at the University of York.

Police believe she was murdered, although her body has never been found and no charges have ever been brought.

Speaking to mark the anniversary, her mother Joan Lawrence said: "Somebody somewhere knows what's going on, somebody somewhere knows what's happened and I wish they would come forward."

On the day she went missing, Claudia was last seen at about 15:05 GMT as she walked towards her home on Heworth Road.

Her disappearance prompted the biggest and most complex missing person inquiry in the history of North Yorkshire Police.

Reflecting on her disappearance, senior investigating officer Det Supt Jon Sygrove said: "It is difficult to comprehend the long ordeal that Claudia's family have faced, and my thoughts are with them."

He urged anyone with information to come forward.

"I believe the answers that Claudia's loved ones deserve will come from the individuals who know, or think they know, what happened to her.

"They have carried this knowledge for 17 years, and witnessed the profound pain experienced by Claudia's family."

Joan Lawrence owns the house in Heworth where Claudia lived at the time of her disappearance.

She makes frequent visits there and wanted to thank the people of Heworth for their support.

She said: "I go there regularly now and I've got to know a lot of people, I don't know their names, I know their faces, they come and talk to me and they've been absolutely wonderful, the people of Heworth.

"It's very much part of their lives now."

Although the police investigation has been in a reactive phase since 2017, North Yorkshire Police said every single new piece of information received was checked and evaluated against the substantial volume of evidence already gathered throughout its inquiries.

The force said it would pursue any new information that led to a meaningful line of inquiry.

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