New lead over missing chef

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence in York are pursuing a new lead which could be "significant".

The 35-year-old chef vanished on 18 March 2009, when she failed to arrive for her 6am shift at the University of York. The investigation, being treated as suspected murder, is one of the biggest to be carried out by North Yorkshire Police.

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Detectives are currently developing information which came into the investigation following recent media coverage about the case. It has the potential to be a significant line of inquiry."

A family spokesman, Martin Dales, welcomed the news and said it had "come out of the blue". But he added: "We have been here before with false dawns."