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Awareness day for missing Claudia New lead in hunt for missing chef
(about 6 hours later)
Family and friends of Claudia Lawrence have organised an "awareness day" to mark the missing chef's 36th birthday. Police investigating the disappearance of missing chef Claudia Lawrence are following a "potentially significant lead" after a television appeal.
The event will be held in the centre of Miss Lawrence's home city of York on the eve of her birthday. North Yorkshire Police said it had received more than 30 calls after the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Thursday.
Miss Lawrence went missing on 18 March last year. She was last seen leaving her place of work at York University. New CCTV footage of the 35-year-old from York was shown and an appeal made.
New CCTV footage of Miss Lawrence shown on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Thursday night had produced a "highly credible" new lead, said police. Family and friends of Miss Lawrence, who has been missing for nearly a year, are holding an awareness day in York, the eve of her birthday.
Det Supt Ray Galloway, of North Yorkshire Police, said the information meant officers would check a "specific location". Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth on 18 March, 2008, and failed to arrive for work the following morning.
"It's a highly credible piece of information and something we intend to act on quickly," he said. Police are treating the investigation into her disappearance as one of suspected murder.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A potentially significant lead is being investigated; however we are unable to give any further details at this stage due to operational reasons."
Balloons releasedBalloons released
Claudia Lawrence Awareness Day will involve her father Peter, 63, who has led a campaign to find his daughter. Claudia Lawrence Awareness Day involves her father Peter, 63, who has led a campaign to find his daughter.
He will be joined by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor John Galvin. He is being joined by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor John Galvin.
Department store Browns is devoting a window to the Find Claudia campaign and one of Miss Lawrence's favourite bands The Dunwells is due to perform.Department store Browns is devoting a window to the Find Claudia campaign and one of Miss Lawrence's favourite bands The Dunwells is due to perform.
Balloons with special tags will be released and candles will be lit on a cake in St Sampson's Square. Balloons with special tags will be released and candles are being lit on a cake in St Sampson's Square.
North Yorkshire Police said the force had recently traced a man in the Irish Republic who had a relationship with Miss Lawrence in 2008.
Profile 'delay'
A spokesman said the man, who has since been eliminated from their inquiries, had previously denied having a relationship with the chef and had only admitted to it when spoken to personally by officers from the inquiry team.
Det Supt Galloway said: "This has been an all too frequent theme of the investigation, where people have denied either knowing or being in a relationship with Claudia, until presented with overwhelming evidence.
"This does nothing but delay the completion of the profile being compiled in relation to Claudia's life.
"I appeal to any persons who have known Claudia to come forward. I won't be satisfied until I know Claudia's complete life."