VOLUNTEERS from a national charity were in York today to highlight the searches for three missing people from the city and thousands more across the country.

Peter Lawrence, father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, was joining members of Missing People at Bootham Crescent ahead of York City’s match with Cheltenham.

He will be joined by other volunteers to remind football fans that Claudia, Edward Machin and York St John University student Megan Roberts are still missing.

Claudia has been missing since 2009. Megan, 20, disappeared on a night out in York last month, while Edward, 39, of York has not been seen since a confirmed sighting of him at Bempton, on the east coast, on Thursday, January 23.

Today’s event is being used to highlight the impact of their disappearances on families and friends.

Martin Crosby, regional manager for the Missing People charity, said 250,000 people go missing in the UK each year.

He said: “When someone you love goes missing you want the whole world to stop and join the search. Sharing these appeals is one of the key ways football fans and the public can support the search for Megan, Claudia and Edward, whose family and friends are pleased to work on this with York City FC, as a club at the centre of the community.”

Yesterday, North Yorkshire Police said they were investigating several reported sightings of Edward, while searches will also continue for Megan over the weekend and into next week.

Mr Lawrence said: “It is distressing to have both Edward and Megan missing in York along with Claudia and my thoughts are with their families and friends.”

To help with the charity’s work in York, contact Mr Crosby on 07872 601681 or email martin.crosby@missingpeople.org.uk