“ONE of the words used at Easter is 'hope' and I think we have to be full of hope”.

Those were the words of Revd Canon John Manchester, the vicar of Old Malton, who has known missing chef Claudia Lawrence for 33 years.

Today he lit a candle and said a prayer for Claudia in the village's St Mary's Priory Church where she and her family used to worship together.

Revd Manchester has long been a personal friend of Claudia's family and is offering support to them over Easter.

He said her disappearance is particularly poignant at Easter when families across the country are spending time together but her parents, Peter and Joan, were coping.

He said: “Peter is bearing up to things remarkably well and we all feel for him and for Joan, thinking of this family time of children coming home and being together. I just hope that all parents, when they see their children, spend a moment saying a prayer and thinking of Claudia.”

Revd Manchester said Claudia's mother, Jean, who still worships at St Mary's, was with friends.

He said: “She is doing well and is being wonderfully supported by her friends. They are sharing her burden of the disappearance of Claudia. She is going through the mill but is bearing up well.

“You empathise very strongly with her parents. They are lovely people and as a priest you want the best for them.”

Prayers will be said across Malton and North Yorkshire this Easter for Claudia, who lived in Heworth and went missing nearly three weeks ago on March 18.

Revd Manchester said Easter was all about hope.

He said: “We have to pray that things will change and someone will come forward. Someone somewhere must have seen her or know something if they can just pass that on to the police.

“We long to see Claudia again, we really do. I've known her nearly all her life. She was in our Sunday school here and I hoped to prepare her for her confirmation here.”

Speaking directly to Claudia he said: “We love you and we want to surround you with our love and if you are able to please contact your parents and friends.”

Anyone with information about Claudia's disappearance should telephone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.