THE mother of Claudia Lawrence has spoken of the strength she gains from the support of the local community ahead of the sixth anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance.

Joan Lawrence, who lives in Norton, said she was fortunate to live in an area where people continued to help her deal with the pain of not knowing what has happened to Claudia, who was 35 when she went missing.

“People say that I have a lot of courage and deal with it bravely but there is a public side and a private side,” she said. “I am fortunate to have a lot of support from people in Malton and Norton and six years down the line they are still there for me.”

Joan, who is mayor of Malton, said it was a difficult week for her with the anniversary of Claudia’s disappearance and Mother’s Day on Sunday, which she spent with elder daughter Ali and her family in Derbyshire.

“We did the best we could, but Ali feels it as much as me,” she said. “Never did we think we would get to this point without answers, but someone out there knows something and I do not know how they sleep at night.”

Claudia’s father, Peter, who is supporting the charity Missing People’s “Everything Stops for Tea” campaign to support those who are missing, or are missing someone they love, said this week was a particularly difficult one.

“It is unbelievably cruel of the people that know what has happened to Claudia to not give the police the information they need to hear,” he said. “It has been six long, empty years that our family and her friends have been without Claudia and the deep pain continues unrelieved.”

Claudia, who is originally from Malton, was working as a chef at York University when she returned to her home in Heworth Road, York, on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 and spoke to both her mother and father.

She failed to arrive at work the following morning.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Crime Unit, said Claudia’s case had proved to be a “very different missing person inquiry”.

He said: “Six years have passed since Claudia disappeared. For her loved ones, the pain caused by her absence and the circumstances of her disappearance has not faded and nor, I assume, has the guilt and knowledge that one or more people have about what happened to this young woman.”

Det Supt Malyn said following information recently received, officers were actively pursuing new leads. “There are a number of people who are of very particular interest to me. There are those who have yet to admit fully their relationship with Claudia or events in the days leading up to her disappearance,” he said.

“I would make a further appeal for those people to come forward now and provide explanations. If I reach the point where we believe people continue to obstruct this investigation or assist or cover up for the person or persons responsible, they will be arrested.

“Ultimately, we may not be able to prove what happened to Claudia, or be able to find her. But that will not be for lack of determination, tenacity and meticulous detective work, nor while there are still clues that need to be investigated.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option one, and pass details to the force control room, quoting Claudia Lawrence. People can also phone Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.

For further information about the Claudia Lawrence investigation, go to the dedicated microsite on the North Yorkshire Police website at northyorkshire.police.uk/claudialawrence