Camera crews from the BBC’s Crimewatch programme have filmed a reconstruction of what may have been the last sighting of York chef Claudia Lawrence.

A passing cyclist saw a man standing with a woman fitting Claudia’s description on Melrosegate Bridge just after 5.35am on March 19. Claudia failed to turn up for work that day at 6am.

Police regard the incident as a significant sighting, in the right place at the right time.

Actors were recruited from an agency to play the roles of Claudia and the mystery man, and camera crews were at the bridge last night – in light conditions similar to those at the time of that possible last sighting – to film the reconstruction.

Filming will continue today, and a helicopter will also be deployed to take aerial shots of the route.

The reconstruction will be screened on June 2. “We hope a reconstruction and exclusive interviews with Claudia’s family will encourage people who know anything to come forward,” said Crimewatch editor Alex Loughran.

It is two months almost to the day since Claudia vanished. This has been a dreadful time for her family. But Martin Dales, a friend and spokesman for Claudia’s father, said Peter Lawrence was “very encouraged” by the reconstruction.

“He believes that, as she could now be anywhere in the UK or the world, the reach of a programme such as Crimewatch can only assist in helping to solve this ever-lengthening mystery, which is causing her family and friends such distress,” Mr Dales said.

We hope the Crimewatch report does jog somebody’s memory. Anything, however seemingly trivial, might provide police with the vital piece of evidence they need.

There must be somebody who saw or knows something. It might not seem important to you. You may not want to waste the police’s time. But let the police be the judge of that.

If you know anything at all, come forward. Claudia’s family have been going through torment for the past two months. They need to know what happened.