THE father of university chef Claudia Lawrence spoke today of a "strange and dreadful feeling" as his daughters disappearance approached 50 days.

Peter Lawrence was speaking in Hovingham, North Yorkshire, as he officially launched a new website dedicated to finding his 35-year-old daughter.

He said: "Not knowing anything at all about Claudia's whereabouts is a most strange and dreadful feeling. "And connected with that, there has recently been published various sightings reported of people who may or may not be Claudia on the Thursday morning, 19th of March.

"My message is, because of the feeling we are all going through, will someone out there please respond to those sightings, either to say it was us and is nothing to do with it or to say, anonymously to Crimestoppers if necessary, that person on the bridge was my neighbour, my workmate or whatever.

"Just something to relieve us of part of this dreadful feeling."

Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth, York, on March 18 and failed to arrive for her 6am shift at work at the University of York's Goodricke College the following day.

North Yorkshire Police have now formally classified the investigation into her disappearance as one of suspected murder.