Claudia police return from Cyprus

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

Police officers sent to Cyprus to search for clues about the disappearance of York chef Claudia Lawrence have returned home.

Miss Lawrence, 35, has been missing from her home for six months.

Officers were sent to Cyprus to try to find people she knew, after the last text message she received was traced to the Mediterranean island.

The force said several people Miss Lawrence knew were identified and spoken to but were not suspects.

Det Supt Ray Galloway said: "Significant progress has been achieved in terms of completing our knowledge of Claudia's contacts on the island and, most importantly, any involvement or knowledge that they had in relation to Claudia's disappearance.

"This includes the identification of individuals that were previously only known via holiday photographs or nickname.

"All of those spoken to and interviewed have been treated as witnesses and are not suspects in this investigation."

Earlier this week Suzy Cooper, a friend of Miss Lawrence, said she was surprised the decision to visit Cyprus was not taken earlier.

Mr Galloway said: "Only as further investigation revealed the extent of Claudia's contacts on the island did it become apparent that it would be necessary to send a team across there."