Claudia Lawrence: ITV investigator given exclusive access to chef's home

The home of Claudia Lawrence has remained untouched since her disappearance Credit: ITV

A former detective has been granted exclusive access to the home of missing Claudia Lawrence - and said police believe that those responsible for her disappearance have been inside the property.

As part of his Unsolved series for ITV's This Morning, Mark Williams-Thomas also revealed that officers have been back to her York home using the latest forensic techniques.

The former officer-turned investigative reporter said it was known Claudia returned to her home on Wednesday March 18 2009 - but it is still unclear if she stayed or left the following morning.

Claudia was reported missing when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift as a chef at the University of York on Thursday March 19.

Claudia Lawrence went missing in 2009 Credit: PA

Mark William-Thomas also spoke to Claudia's parents and friends, and said he believes the mystery of her disappearance can - and will - be solved.

He said a number of people have still not come forward including a man caught on CCTV near to Claudia's home on the night of her disappearance.

On the Thursday morning a woman was seen on the route Claudia would have taken to work. The woman, who matched the description of the missing chef, was seen talking to a man holding a cigarette in his left hand. Those people have still not come forward.

CCTV image of a man seen near Claudia Lawrence's house on the night she disappeared Credit: North Yorkshire Police

Mr Williams-Thomas said police have told him that there are people out there who know what happened to Claudia and who are still not telling the truth, eight years on.

Once they do, he said, the mystery may be solved.

Despite scaling back the investigation, North Yorkshire Police said the case will not be closed until those responsible for Claudia’s disappearance are brought to justice.