Claudia appeal is taken to London

Ms Lawrence often socialised at the Nag's Head pub

The father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence has travelled to London to make a fresh appeal for information.

Peter Lawrence said he wanted more "national coverage" to help find out what had happened to his daughter, who has not been seen for three months.

Miss Lawrence, 35, was last seen leaving the University of York's Goodricke College, where she worked, on 18 March.

Her disappearance is being treated as suspected murder.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Lawrence said: "It is a matter of getting as much national coverage as possible."

He added: "Three months ago I never thought I would be sat here today.

"It's just incredible to think that a 35-year-old can just disappear one day or one night without trace, with nothing being heard since.

"It is obviously extremely difficult for the family to deal with this. We hope and pray that Claudia is out there somewhere.

"Somebody out there does know something."

'Detailed search'

On Wednesday, officers from North Yorkshire Police conducted a "detailed search" of the Nag's Head pub in Heworth Road, close to Miss Lawrence's home.

It has been reported that they took away bed sheets which had been on a mattress with a small bloodstain on it.

Mr Lawrence said he had been told the search was routine and formed part of the ongoing police inquiry.

He was joined at a press conference by Jo Youle, from the Missing People charity.

She urged Miss Lawrence to make contact via a 24-hour confidential phone service.

The police investigation into Miss Lawrence's disappearance is the largest in North Yorkshire since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson in 2004, began when she failed to arrive for work at York University.