THE father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence today spoke of the anguish he felt at not knowing what had happened to his daughter since she disappeared two months ago.

Peter Lawrence, 62, of Slingsby, North Yorkshire, said he was "angry" that repeated appeals for information had so far drawn a blank and hoped a television reconstruction of events leading to his daughter's disappearance would encourage people to come forward.

Miss Lawrence, 35, was last seen near her home on Heworth Road, York, on March 18 and failed to arrive for a 6am shift at work at the University of York's Goodricke College the following day.

Speaking at a news conference in Hovingham, North Yorks, solicitor Mr Lawrence said: "Today is exactly two months since Claudia disappeared.

It`s obviously been an extremely difficult time for all of the family and it`s the not knowing that`s the most difficult.

"I find it incredible that a mature adult can disappear without money, without access to money, without a passport or anything else and nothing at all be heard for two months."

He continued: "Two months with no news at all makes it very difficult but we do still have hope that Claudia is there somewhere and one day she will be back with us."

Mr Lawrence said he found it "incredible" that no-one had so far come forward to identify a number of people who police want to trace in connection with the investigation.

"I suppose, yes, I`m angry. Somebody out there does know something and I just wish they would say so, I can`t see a reason for someone not responding even if they do so anonymously," he said.

Mr Lawrence said the case would be featured on BBC1`s Crimewatch programme on June 2, with filming of reconstructions taking place in York today and tomorrow.

"It`s a national programme, it`s got a very big audience, let`s hope a big feature on there persuades somebody to say something," he said.

North Yorkshire Police have now formally classified their investigation as one of suspected murder and Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

Martin Dales, Mr Lawrence's friend and spokesman, today said a website set up to try to help find Miss Lawrence had received more than 16,000 hits since it was launched.

Mr Dales said nearly 3,000 people had visited the guest book on the www.findclaudia.co.uk site and 363 messages had been left for the Lawrence family.