The man leading the investigation into the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence has thanked the public for “new information”.
Det Supt Wayne Fox said: “I thank the public for the positive responses and new information received in support of the current phase of the investigation.”
Mr Fox did not say what information prompted the latest search – in fishing lakes eight miles from Claudia’s home – more than 12 years after she vanished.
But in March, on the anniversary of her disappearance, he said: “We continue to receive information from a variety of sources.
Some of this can be discounted because of inquiries we’ve already made. But at other times we receive information, sometimes anonymously, that appears extremely interesting and sparks full new lines of investigation.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, divers pumped water from the smaller of the two former gravel pits. Fire pumps were attached to red pipes which appeared to lead to the larger lake.
Three officers waded up to their armpits in the smaller lake while another monitored a screen.
Nearby, officers formed a line to search surrounding woodland with long poles and rakes. They had created a giant grid marked out with red police tape between the trees. Blue flags were dotted around as a marker for areas that need further investigation.
Police will not say what has led them to the area at Sand Hutton, North Yorks, but admit the search could last weeks. Claudia, 35, who lived in York, was reported missing after she failed to arrive at the city’s university where she worked as a chef.
Her father Peter, 74, died in February.
Heartbroken mum Joan, 78, spoke of her “utter shock” and distress as she awaits news.
Earlier this week she said that soon after Claudia vanished, a scruffy-looking man with a spade was spotted in woods half a mile from the current search site.
Villagers had come to her claiming they had seen “strange activity” involving a man with a spade acting “very suspiciously”. They were convinced he was not local.
Joan said she told police but as far as she was aware the woods were not searched.
She added: “If anyone knows anything but they don’t feel they can go to the police please tell me.”
Nine people have been questioned over the years but no charges have been brought .
