THE detective leading the investigation into the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence said today he was satisfied that the image of the 35-year-old issued by his force was an accurate one.

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway was responding to reports today that the 35-year-old, from York, dyed her hair brown shortly before she went missing last month.

The official photo of her issued by North Yorkshire Police appears to show her with a lighter-coloured style.

Miss Lawrence's stylist, Nick Brignell, told Sky News he coloured her hair using a darker dye than usual three-and-a-half weeks before she disappeared.

Mr Brignell said: "She used to ring me up after an appointment to tell me I'd made it too blonde, so on this occasion we weaved some dark through it instead to make it more brown."

But Mr Galloway said: "I am satisfied that the photographs being used in relation to the public appeal for sightings of Claudia Lawrence are accurate, within the context of the fact that she was known to regularly dye her hair.

"Claudia's family, friends and staff at her hair salon were consulted regarding the accuracy of the photographs and they were confirmed as accurate.

"The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has to make a decision in terms of the images available to the investigation team and whether those images are an accurate representation of the person being sought.

"The SIO in this case is satisfied that the images being used are accurate."

Mr Galloway also stressed he believed enough resources had been devoted to the investigation which currently involved more than 50 officers.

The detective was responding to further reports today which questioned the speed with which his officers have dealt with some information it has received as part of the inquiry.

"The Claudia Lawrence investigation team are being extremely well supported by information from the public who are seeking to assist them in their quest to locate Claudia and to identify the reason for her disappearance since March 18/19 2009," he said.

"The information received is considered and assessed as part of a methodical and structured process that is well proven and established in relation to the investigation of major crime.

"Any subsequent action taken is within the context of all of the information known to the investigation team and the priorities of the SIO.

"The SIO is satisfied that he has all of the resources necessary to progress the investigation effectively and efficiently."

The investigation into Miss Lawrence's disappearance is now the biggest the North Yorkshire force has conducted since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson five years ago.

Miss Lawrence, 35, was last seen on March 18 after she finished work at the University of Yorks Goodricke College and has not been in contact with anybody since around 8.30pm that evening.

Last week detectives said they were investigating new leads including the sighting of a couple involved in a roadside argument in the early hours of March 19.

Miss Lawrence was due to start work at 6am on March 19 but never arrived.

And on March 10 or 13, a woman motorist passing by Miss Lawrence's home in Heworth Road in slow-moving traffic saw two men outside the chef's front door.

Police have said they fear Miss Lawrence may have come to harm after meeting up with someone she knew.

Yesterday, Miss Lawrence's father Peter, 68, spoke of his family's anguish as he recalled how they anxiously waited to hear confirmation from the police that a body found in the River Ouse on Friday was not that of his daughter.

North Yorkshire Police officers were called to the River Ouse at Bishopthorpe Bridge, in Fulford, York, at 10.40am on Friday following reports of a body in the water.

The body was eventually identified as Pauline Armitage from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, who was reported missing by her family earlier this month.