Claudia Lawrence's father speaks of anguish on what would have been her birthday

An emotional appeal was issued yesterday on behalf of Peter Lawrence ahead of his daughter’s 46th birthday today (Feb 27).

Miss Lawrence was 35 when she was last seen in York in March 2009, and North Yorkshire Police launched a murder investigation the following month.

But no-one has been charged over the University of York chef’s disappearance, and detectives have admitted they fear the search is being hampered by people withholding vital evidence.

Martin Dales, a close friend of Mr Lawrence who has acted as his spokesman, said: “In Peter’s mind, Claudia is ever-present in his thoughts and prayers even though he hasn’t had her around him for nearly 11 years.

“The pain of such a long absence does not go away - it is not something you get used to but rather manage whilst getting on with living day-to-day and waiting.

“Clearly someone has the knowledge of where Claudia is and is living with the secret that is causing such anguish for Peter and the family. Truth will out at some point and the sooner the better for the family, friends and police.”

The Yorkshire Post revealed last year ahead of the 10th anniversary of Miss Lawrence’s disappearance that her father, who is separated from her mother and is a retired solicitor from York, had admitted publicly for the first time that he was having to come to terms with the fact that he may never see his daughter again.

She was last spotted at 3.05pm on March 18, 2009, walking back to her house in Heworth in York. She later had a telephone conversation with her father, and then another with her mother.

The following morning, she failed to arrive for her shift at the University of York.

Nine people have been arrested or interviewed under caution over the disappearance and police submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2015 in relation to four men who were detained.

However, there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.