THE search of a home belonging to a man arrested on suspicion of murdering Claudia Lawrence will continue into next week.

Crime scene investigators have been carrying out forensic work at the York home of Michael Snelling, 59, since he was arrested on Tuesday by detectives investigating the disappearance of the chef.

Ms Lawrence was reported missing in 2009 when she failed to arrive for work at Goodricke College, part of York University.

The missing woman, who came from Darlington and was brought up in Malton, North Yorkshire, was living in the Heworth area of York at the time of her disappearance.

Mr Snelling’s home on Burnholme Grove, is less than a mile away from Ms Lawrence’s home and he was known to drink in her local pub, the Nag’s Head.

Mr Snelling, known locally as Geordie Mick, has now been released on police bail. He has not yet been charged.

A forensic investigation of a second property in Hollywell Road, North Shields, being searched by police has now been completed. The property belongs to Mr Snelling’s elderly mother, who now lives in a care home.

Mr Snelling was formerly a laboratory technician at York University who more recently held a position in a local mental health charity, York Mind.

Police have said there may be other arrests in connection with the investigation.

* Claudia Lawrence’s father spoke of the poignancy of having a loved one go missing as he attended a run with the parents of Madeleine McCann.

Peter Lawrence sounded the horn to start the fundraising Miles for Missing People race on Clapham Common in London on Saturday (May 17).

Running in the event were Kate and Gerry McCann, who earlier this month marked the seventh anniversary of their daughter's disappearance.

The event was also attended by Rachel Elias whose brother is Richey Edwards, former guitarist and vocalist of the Manic Street Preachers, who went missing almost two decades ago.