Det Supt Ray Galloway, the detective leading the hunt for the 35-year-old, appealed yesterday for the public's help in tracing the owner of a dark-coloured truck, believed to be a Ford Ranger Thunder.

Police released CCTV footage showing the vehicle parked close to Claudia's home in Heworth, York, on Wednesday, March 18, and after the appeal was broadcast the owner of a vehicle matching the one seen came forward.

The owner and the truck have now been eliminated from the investigation. A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Shortly after the appeal was broadcast, the owner of a vehicle matching the vehicle's description and location came forward.

"Detectives have investigated the vehicle and the driver and have eliminated both from their inquiries."

Detectives also thanked the public and the media for their help in locating the truck. Miss Lawrence was last seen on March 18 near her home, after leaving work at the University of York's Goodricke College, and has not been in contact with anybody since around 8.30pm that day.

Despite extensive media appeals and police searches, detectives have failed to trace the popular chef. Detectives have said they fear she may have come to harm after meeting up with somebody she knew.

The police investigation into her disappearance is now the biggest the North Yorkshire force has conducted since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson five years ago.

Mr Galloway described the public's help as "magnificent", and said his officers had been "overwhelmed" with information.

It was being worked through in a "structured and expeditious manner" and the inquiry was moving forward, but further public assistance was needed.

"There's some suggestion we know what has happened. we don't," he added. "We need public assistance and we need it from all avenues."
The detective was speaking in front of a van, displaying pictures of 35-year-old Miss Lawrence, which will drive round parts of York in the coming days.

Mr Galloway described some of the searches as "intrusive" and included officers looking in bins, lofts and gardens to try to find any evidence.
He said officers were pursuing "some positive lines of inquiry".
Meanwhile, the father of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, who disappeared 23 years ago, urged Claudia's friends and family to "never give up hope".