THE father of Claudia Lawrence will host a special service in memory of missing people in York this Christmas.

Peter Lawrence will be at the annual carol service at St Michael le Belfrey Church on Saturday, December 12, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The service is one of many the charity Missing People holds across the country each year to remember those who are missing all over the UK.

Mr Lawrence, whose daughter went missing at the age of 35 in 2009, said: "Please come to join us and support us at the all-important annual carol service for Missing People."

Organisers say the service aims to bring together people with missing loved ones "n remembrance and hope", and that spirit is reflected in the performances planned for the evening.

The Missing People Choir, led by Jim Hawkins and formed by people who have seen a loved one go missing and their supporters, will perform at the service singing "Don't Let it Go Away" written by Alice Gross and “I Miss You” which features a solo from Peter Boxell, whose son Lee who went missing at the age of 15 in 1988.

York Press:

St Michael le Belfrey

Kevin Gosden, the father of Andrew, who went missing from Doncaster aged 14 will also be reading.

The charity's regional manager Josie Allan said: "Every two minutes someone goes missing in the UK. For their families, the thought of an empty chair at the Christmas dinner table is truly heart-breaking.

"We’re hoping that the vital funds raised from the York service and others around the country will help end this suffering and provide support to thousands of families missing a loved one this Christmas."

Tickets are now available for the service, the proceeds of the carol service will go towards the charity’s annual “Home for Christmas” campaign.

The charity's workers hope that this year’s campaign will raise enough money to keep its free 24 hour confidential helpline 116 000 up and running for a week between Christmas and New Year. To reserve tickets, go to www.missingpeople.org.uk/localcarols.

The services in England are this year also supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery, which has raised £3.4 million for the charity to date.