POLICE investigating the disappearance of chef Claudia Lawrence have launched a fresh search of fields near the University of York, where she worked.

Officers yesterday scoured an area known as The Outgang, in Heslington, a network of paths and fields popular with dog-walkers and joggers.

North Yorkshire Police said they had recently received new information and said officers with sniffer dogs had spent the past two days carrying out searches. They are expected to return today.

A force spokesman said the activity was not linked to the recent suggestion that Claudia, who was 35 when she disappeared, may have been out with a new boyfriend only days before her disappearance 12 months ago.

The spokesman also said officers had not been digging in the area, contrary to some reports.

Claudia has now been missing for more than a year and police are treating the case as suspected murder.

Martin Dales, a spokesman for Claudia’s father Peter Lawrence, said: “It’s good to know that the police are still very active in searching for Claudia after over a year. It’s a thankless task for those involved and we are very grateful for them for continuing to try to find answers.”

The police spokesman said: “Police investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence are conducting searches in an area of York known as The Outgang, which is in the Heslington area.

“The searches, which began on Tuesday, are expected to take up to three days.”

An officer at the scene said the team was conducting a line search and said three search dogs were being used.

A team of six officers spent the afternoon conducting a search of a field next to the sports ground in Heslington, near the University of York.

Claudia grew up in Malton and was living in Heworth when she vanished, a year ago this month.

She was last seen alive on March 18, 2009, and a police search was launched after she failed to turn up for work the following day.