THE father of chef Claudia Lawrence has insisted he is absolutely convinced she did not go missing of her own accord.

But he spoke of his frustration at the three months of silence since his 35-year-old daughter was last seen.

Solicitor Peter Lawrence made his comments after police searched his daughter’s local pub, the Nag’s Head in Heworth, York, for a second time.

Detectives spent seven hours combing the building on Wednesday and found a speck of blood on a bed in the guest room section.

They took away a mattress protector, sheet and pillow case for further examination. Landlord George Forman said afterwards: "It could have been there for years - somebody probably had a nose bleed."

Mr Lawrence said he did not have any suspicions over the police search of the pub.

"It is of no particular significance except for the fact it was three doors away from her house and she was spending a lot of time there, as she was a regular customer," he said.

He said that despite the lack of progress since his daughter went missing on March 18 he was not frustrated by the police investigation.

"I am frustrated with whoever is out there who has not come forward to help," he said.

"I am absolutely convinced this is not something she has chosen to do herself."

He added: "I have absolutely no idea what happened - it is a total mystery and I can’t understand how a 35-year-old young woman can disappear without a trace."

Jo Youle, from the Missing People charity, urged Miss Lawrence to make contact via a 24-hour confidential free phone service - 0800 700 740.

"If, like so many others, Claudia feels unable to make direct contact with the people she has left behind, the charity can help by forwarding a message on her behalf to her family," she said.

Miss Lawrence has not been seen since March 18 and failed to turn up for a 6am shift at York University, where she worked, the following day.

Police are now treating the case as one of suspected murder - and a £10,000 reward is on offer from the charity Crimestoppers.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is urged to contact police on 0845 6060 247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.