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Claudia father's Easter message
The father of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence has issued an Easter message appealing for help to find his daughter.
Solicitor Peter Lawrence, who is a committed churchgoer, said he wanted to make a fresh appeal this weekend as "Easter is a time of hope".
Malton-raised Miss Lawrence, 35, who worked as a chef at York University, has not been seen for more than three weeks despite a massive police operation to find her.
Yesterday her father met with his old friend the Rev Canon John Manchester, who has been the vicar of Old Malton for 33 years.
Miss Lawrence went to Sunday School at the church when she was a girl. Her father has been in daily contact with the vicar since Miss Lawrence disappeared.
A statement issued on Mr Lawrence's behalf said: "Easter is a time of hope, a time when families can be together, a time in the Christian church for celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Peter and the family, this is an impossibly difficult and bewildering time when life is on hold.
"They are gaining much strength from, and feeling sustained by, the prayers of those who have a faith and the compassionate thoughts of those who do not. They know that someone out there knows where Claudia is and hopes that, whoever they are, they will search their conscience and inform either the police or Crimestoppers.
"They are very grateful for everyone's kindness and now just wish for the safe return of Claudia to them and to her friends."
Earlier this week, Mr Lawrence said he felt "drained and empty" as he made an emotional plea from his Slingsby home. Mr Lawrence said he believed his daughter had disappeared on her way to work at the University of York's Goodricke College on the morning of March 19 but said he did not think she had been abducted by a stranger.
He described the police investigation of the local area as "marvellous and very thorough" but said he did not know if his daughter was still in York.
The North Yorkshire Police investigation into Miss Lawrence's disappearance is now the biggest the force has conducted since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson five years ago.
Mr Manchester said: "It's important that we keep the picture of Claudia in people's minds. We've got to keep hoping and be positive."
Asked about how the family was faring, he told Sky News: "They're going through great distress and very difficult times, but they are bearing up remarkably well."
A Labour councillor has sparked outrage by dismissing prayers for Claudia as "a waste of time". Peter Blanchard is under investigation by York's Labour party over the remarks on his Facebook web page.
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
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