Missing chef police search house

A team of officers forced their way into the house

Detectives have searched a house near the home of chef Claudia Lawrence who went missing almost four months ago.

Miss Lawrence, 35, went missing from her home in Heworth, York, in March. Detectives are treating her disappearance as suspected murder.

Officers broke into a house two doors down from Miss Lawrence's home in Heworth Road at about 1530 BST and were seen carrying out bags of evidence.

Neighbours told the BBC that they thought the house was unoccupied.

The house is next door to the Nag's Head pub, which Miss Lawrence frequently visited.

Last month detectives spent several hours searching the pub and took several items away for examination.

A police spokesman said Friday's search of the house was "detailed" and was being carried out as a result of information gathered during the investigation.

The police investigation into Miss Lawrence's disappearance is the largest in North Yorkshire since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson in 2004.

Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.