THE father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence has hit out at claims by a Labour councillor that praying for his daughter is futile.

In an interview published yesterday in the Church Times, Peter Lawrence said City of York councillor Paul Blanchard had no right to make the remarks.

“Coun Blanchard is obviously a professed atheist and is entitled to his own views, but he is not entitled to express them in relation to Claudia,” said Mr Lawrence, who is a steward and regular member of the congregation at York Minster.

He was responding to Coun Blanchard’s comments on his personal Facebook page attacking the fact church communities across York were praying for Claudia’s safe return.

“Like praying is going to achieve anything,” he wrote, as previously reported by The Press. “Of all the pointless things to do here, praying wins the prize. Time would be better spent out looking for her surely.

“Is God some kind of sick kickfest where he makes her go missing, sees how many people pray to him, and then decides to intervene based on the number of prayers received?”

Coun Blanchard has since offered an unreserved apology, printed in The Press.

Mr Lawrence, who lives in Slingsby, told the Church Times the Minster community had been hugely supportive.

He also described part of his brain as totally numb, which is why he can tolerate looking at his daughter’s picture on the posters, or hearing her spoken of by strangers.

The 62-year-old solicitor said he has maintained a high profile in the media in the hope that somebody, somewhere, has a fragment of information that might help police to find his daughter.

“It’s just a matter of getting the idea of hope out there,” he told the Church Times.

“However we do it, we’ve got to keep hoping that somewhere out there someone will have seen Claudia, or seen something happening.”

Police try to trace couple

POLICE would also like to trace a couple seen in University Road, on the morning of Tuesday, March 17, and Thursday, March 19.

Det Supt Galloway said the witness had come forward following last week’s appeal to identify a couple seen arguing in the same road at 6.10am on March 19.

The man is described as white, aged between 50 and 55, of medium build, and with dark brown hair, which is greying at the sides.

He was wearing a dark-coloured jacket and lighter-coloured trousers. The woman, who is believed to be younger than the man, is described as white, and her trousers a lighter colour than the man’s.

‘I still believe my daughter is alive’

PETER Lawrence says he still believes his daughter will be found alive, despite police upgrading the investigation to suspected murder.

“I understand why the police are doing this – it’s necessary for their investigation,” he said.

“But the fact that we believe Claudia is still alive is what keeps us going and motivates us.” Mr Lawrence, who is separated from Claudia’s mother, Joan, also made another direct appeal to his daughter to get in touch. “Claudia, it is now five weeks since you disappeared without any trace at all and it’s just so unusual for you not to be in contact,” he said.