Missing chef 'could be in Cyprus'

Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in York on 18 March

York chef Claudia Lawrence could be in Cyprus, according to detectives investigating her disappearance.

North Yorkshire Police said officers had been sent to the Mediterranean island to try to find people the 35-year-old knew.

Det Supt Ray Galloway was speaking at a news conference to mark six months since Miss Lawrence was last seen.

He said she had been planning a trip to Cyprus and received a text from a man there on the night of 18 March.

Mr Galloway said: "The last text message that Claudia received... was from a friend in Cyprus.

"It is not known whether Claudia ever opened this last text message; therefore there has always been a link to Cyprus.

Some of the people that we have contacted have denied knowing Claudia or being in a relationship with her. I don't believe this to be true Det Supt Ray Galloway

"However, over the course of the investigation it has become apparent that Claudia knew several people who live on the island, and it is believed that during her visits to Cyprus she has also received job offers."

Mr Galloway added: "She could be in Cyprus."

The detective said the man who sent the text message had been contacted.

He said: "He has been co-operative with us. However, over the past six months, inquiries have led to a broader knowledge of the fact that she knew different people, several people, on the island of Cyprus, all of whom are British and most of whom work out there or live out there."

Mr Galloway said he had sent a team of officers to the island to speak to these men.

Chef 'could have left the county'

"Some of the people that we have contacted have denied knowing Claudia or being in a relationship with her," he said. "I don't believe this to be true."

He said one man Claudia knew in Cyprus was in the UK on 18 March. "That gentleman has been spoken to and has given an account of his movements," he added

Mr Galloway said it was evident Miss Lawrence was planning another trip to Cyprus at the time of her disappearance.

He said she had travelled to the country "four or five times" in recent years.

Miss Lawrence's passport was found at her home after she disappeared but Mr Galloway said: "There are ways in which people can leave the country [without a passport]."

The detective said he still believed Miss Lawrence had come to harm, because she had not been in touch with family members on special occasions such as birthdays.

He said: "That is key. It's not something that Claudia would have done."

Mr Galloway said no-one had been arrested on suspicion of murder and there were no formal suspects in the case.

"But people are of interest to the investigation," he said.