Claudia Lawrence police search alley near her home

Detectives investigating the disappearance and suspected murder of chef Claudia Lawrence are today beginning searches of an alleyway at the rear of her home.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police's Major Crime Unit, said his team are currently working on a lead that may indicate the alleyway is "significant".

Officers and police dogs will examine the alleyway on Heworth Road in York.

Further house-to-house enquiries will also be carried out in the area and former residents contacted.

Miss Lawrence, who worked at York University, was 35 when she was reported missing by her father Peter on March 20, 2009.

She was last seen at around 3.05pm on March 18, walking back towards her home, and that night she spoke to both her parents on the phone. It is thought something happened to her after she left for work early on March 19.

The new searches near her home come just days before her family prepare to mark her 41st birthday on Friday.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police's Major Crime Unit and the senior investigating officer in the Claudia Lawrence case, said: "The review remains very active and the team are currently working on a lead that may indicate the alleyway at the rear of Claudia's house is significant.

"We still don't know if Claudia left for work on the morning of Thursday 19th March 2009 or whether something happened overnight within her house. If the latter is the case the person or persons responsible, in my view, would have used the rear alleyway as the front door leads onto a busy main road.

"This is why this specific piece of information needs to be fully investigated."

He added: "This remains one of several active enquiries at present that will be developed over the coming weeks and months.

"Together with Claudia's family, we remain absolutely determined to solve this case and bring those responsible for her disappearance and suspected murder to justice."