Claudia's father keeps the faith

Peter has never given up hope of finding Claudia alive

Claudia Lawrence was last seen near her home in York on 18 March. She never arrived at work at the University of York the following morning.

For her family and friends her disappearance has caused shock and deep distress.

The police remain convinced that she may have come to harm and are treating her disappearance as suspected murder.

Six months on Claudia's father, Peter says it's his faith that is sustaining him in the search for his daughter.

We know that you're a man of faith, how hard has it been to keep not only that faith but also the belief that Claudia will eventually be found?

Faith is obviously tried very hard in circumstances like this, but she hasn't been found in any other circumstances and as long as that goes on my hope is that she's still there, alive.

Do you still believe that one day Claudia will be found?

Yes, I do.

It's six months on. How do you keep the faith and belief that Claudia will be found?

Faith is obviously tried very hard in circumstances like this, but she hasn't been found in any other circumstances and as long as that goes on my hope is that she's still there, alive. Peter Lawrence

Until or unless she's found in any other circumstances I will continue to believe that she's alive and one day she will be found.

You've made countless media appeals and she still hasn't been found. Is it simply that family bond, that relationship between father and daughter that makes you carry on?

Yes, Claudia's obviously someone and something extremely important to me. I've got to keep this up for as long as it takes, as hard as it may be.

How has this affected everything else in your life; your work, your relationships, your family and your friendships?

It obviously puts a very different angle on everything. It makes some relationships more difficult but, on the other hand, there's a great deal of support out there from everybody; both from close friends and from people that I don't know.

You've done a phenomenal job in keeping Claudia's case in the public eye. Is it important that you keep doing that or does there come a point where you wonder if you should start to scale it back?

No, we've got to keep doing this. One of these days someone is going to realise that a piece of information they have which they think isn't important really is. That's how some of these investigations do come to an end and I will just keep on going until that happens.

To people on the outside it seems as if the last six months have passed very quickly although I assume it's dragged for you and your family. What would you like to see happen over the next six months?

I hope it isn't another six months but the investigation, I hope, will continue. I'll carry on as long as the press will let me, to keep the message out in the hope that someone will give us a resolution.