MP JOHN GREENWAY, Malton mayor Jane Ford and local families joined have forces to make a passionate plea for information about the disappearance of chef Claudia Lawrence.

Mr Greenway launched the appeal at the Spotted Cow pub, in Malton – a favourite haunt of the missing 35-year-old – on Monday.

Claudia, a chef at the University of York’s Goodricke College, was born in Malton and lived in the market town for 31 years before moving to York four years ago.

“The whole town is just sad,” said Mr Greenway, a close friend of Claudia’s solicitor father, Peter Lawrence, 62.

“We are all upset. She is a Malton girl and we want her back. I’ve got three children in their 30s and if this was one of them I don’t know what I’d do.

“Her father is going through absolute hell. I know Peter very well and I’m absolutely devastated on his behalf.

“Somebody out there knows where she is and what’s happening to her. We need them to come forward and give that vital clue to help us find her.”

Mr Greenway, a former police officer, added: “From being in the police I do fear the worse when somebody goes missing in these circumstances.

“Claudia would not go off like this. She is very close to her friends and family.

“She’s a happy-go-lucky, smashing girl and we need her back.”

Coun Jane Ford said she was hoping and praying that Claudia would be found safe and well.

She serves on Malton Town Council with Claudia’s mother, Joan Lawrence, 65, and the friends also attend keep fit classes together.

Coun Ford said: “Joan is very down, very mixed up. She’s got over the shock of what has happened and the reality is beginning to set in.

“She just wants Claudia to get in touch with her. Just a telephone call so she knows she’s safe.

“Joan asked me to thank everybody for their support. It has helped to give her strength.

“We are all hoping and praying that Claudia will be found. If there is someone who has her, then please return her to her family.”

Liz Holder broke down in tears as she described the pain of not knowing whether her friend was safe. She met Claudia 12 years ago when they both worked at the King’s Head pub in Malton and appealed for anyone with information about her friend’s disappearance to contact the police.

Liz, a pharmacy technician at Boots, Malton, said: “She texted me on the night she went missing. We sent about three or four messages and the last one was at about 7pm.

“It was general chit chat. She said she was getting up early to walk to work the next morning and I replied saying she shouldn’t be walking to work at that time. “But she said she wasn’t worried and it was good exercise.”

Police said they are considering the possibility that Claudia has “come to harm” after going to meet somebody she knew on the Wednesday night. But they are not ruling out the theory that she went missing as she walked to work at around 5.30am on Thursday.

Liz, 28, said: “It’s such an awful feeling just knowing nothing. Every time the phone rings you don’t know what’s coming. I just want to keep her in the news – I don’t want people to forget that she’s still missing.”

BBC’s Crimewatch programme appealed for information about Claudia’s disappearance on Monday night, and detectives have revealed they had received a large number of calls.

Detective Supt Ray Galloway who is leading the hunt, said: “We have received some interesting calls, particularly about previous relationships. What we also want to know is more about recent relationships and anyone who has shown an interest in Claudia recently.”

While 14 calls were made to the programme, the number soared to more than 80 by yesterday afternoon.

If you have information about Claudia’s disappearance, contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.