TELEVISION presenter Harry Gration, who will read a lesson at The Press’s Absent Friends carol service next month, says he hopes the occasion will offer comfort to the family of missing chef Claudia Lawrence.

The BBC broadcaster said it was important the family of the vanished 35-year-old knew the people of York were still behind them and praying for her safe return.

Claudia’s father, Peter Lawrence, will be attending the service on December 9 to read a lesson and pray for his daughter, who has not been seen since March 18.

Harry said: “We all still hope that we will find her and maybe this service can concentrate our thoughts that everybody is still behind the family and wants this to have a happy ending.

“I have been absolutely entrenched in the case, particularly as I live in York, and for me the first thing I look at in The Press is for whether there are new lines.

“It is important that we keep it ticking away until we have a resolution and hopefully we will get one.”

The service of lessons and carols at St Denys’ Church, in Walmgate, will remember not only missing people, but all absent friends.

It is for people who have been bereaved, for those whose relationships have broken down, for those parted by emigration and it will also remember members of our armed forces away on active service.

The service will start at noon and a collection will be held at the service in aid of Missing People, a charity that provides families of missing people specialist advice and practical support.

Pupils from St Lawrence CE Primary School will be leading the singing and refreshments will be served after the service.

All are welcome, but the public is asked to bear in mind the church is small and worshippers should arrive early for the best chance of attendance.

Please email the names of the loved ones you will be separated from at Christmas to nicola.fifield@thepress.co.uk by December 7 and these names will be read out during the service.

Every care will be taken to collect names faithfully, but The Press cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions.

If you are not able to attend the service, but would like to make a donation to Missing People, log on to missingpeople.org.uk/supportus, phone 0800 298 7858, or make cheques payable to Missing People and send them to Missing People, 284 Upper Richmond Road west, London, SW14 7JE.