CLAUDIA Lawrence's family should have been celebrating the York chef's 41st birthday on Friday. Instead, they look set to mark another miserable milestone in the almost six years since she disappeared without trace.

Over those years, hopes of finding Claudia alive have ebbed away. Police now speak openly of her suspected murder. Yet they remain as determined as ever to solve the mystery of her disappearance – and bring those responsible to justice.

Detectives are now focusing on a potential new lead. They plan to make fresh searches of an alleyway behind Claudia's Heworth home.

If Claudia was taken from her home on the night of March 18, 2009, then whoever was responsible would have used that alleyway, says Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, the man leading the investigation.

"This remains one of several active inquiries," he said.

Earlier this week, police said there could yet be more arrests. "We remain absolutely determined to solve this case," Det Sup Malyn said.

This Friday is likely to be yet another day of heartache and misery for Claudia's loved ones, who have gone through so much over the past few years.

The police's continued determination to find out what happened will not bring comfort, exactly: what comfort could there be?

But we welcome their dogged refusal to give up on this case. The family need to know what happened to Claudia. A breakthrough in the case, even at this late stage, may not provide much solace: but it could at least bring some much-needed resolution.