THE father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence has admitted to following “every twist and turn” of a high-profile murder case that has dominated the news in recent days.

Peter Lawrence, whose daughter has not been seen since March 2009, has spoken about the murder of landscape architect Joanna Yeates, from Bristol, whose body was found on Christmas Day.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Lawrence said: “The moment I heard that another young woman had disappeared my initial thought was: ‘Oh dear God no, not another young girl. Not another family who, today, will begin the anguish that has eaten away at me’.”

He added: “I have followed every twist and turn of Jo’s case and I know that while [her family’s] total devastation at her murder is indescribable, I know, too, that they will derive some comfort that they at least know what happened to her, however horrific that was.

“If I could at least have that it would mean so much.”

Miss Lawrence, who was 35 at the time of her disappearance, was born in Malton, North Yorkshire, and lived in the Heworth area of York.

Her parents are originally from Darlington.

Mr Lawrence gave the newspaper an insight into his own anguish and the fact that his experience has seen him become something of an authority on missing people.

He said: “When Jo’s body was found, there was that moment when I thought perhaps it could be Claudia.

“And even though you desperately don’t want to be told it is your child there is, when you have been waiting for news for as long as I have, part of you that thinks you could perhaps find some closure, some release, if it was.

“It seems Jo knew her attacker and I’m confident that it was the same with Claudia.

“There was one sighting on the morning she disappeared of a couple arguing near a car and whoever they were, they have never come forward.

“Those sort of snippets of information take on huge significance when there is so little to go on.”

Anyone with information about Miss Lawrence is asked to call police, on 0845-60-60-24- 7, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111.