THE father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence wowed the judges and crowd alike on ITV's Britain's Got Talent on Saturday night.

Tears were shed on the show as Peter Lawrence joined family members of other missing people, charity workers and supporters for a special vocal performance.

The Missing People Choir performed a rendition of I Miss You, a song penned by Peter Bozell, whose son Lee went missing nearly 30 years ago.

The piece also includes lyrics written by schoolgirl Alice Goss, who was murdered in 2014 aged 14.

Mr Lawrence's daughter, from York, has been missing for eight years.

He said beforehand it was "such a great opportunity to get across our message to so many people" and the choir planned to use the winner's money for their appeals.

At the end of the performance the choir received a resounding 'yes' from all four judges.

Amanda Holden said: "I thought that was an extraordinary song and it must echo how many of you feel.

"I am glad you have all got each other and I am glad that you have turned such a dreadful thing into something so massively positive.  

"Hopefully it will help other people who have got family members who are lost."

"I have so much admiration for you," said Alesha Dixon. "You sang that song beautifully."

"I can't imagine how you got through it," said David Walliams. "It was so emotional."

"I have to pay you absolute respect for what you have just done," said Simon Cowell. "Sometimes I think awareness is as important as anything else. It's incredible."

Miss Lawrence was last seen on March 18 2009 and reported missing the following day after she failed to turn up for a shift at work at the University of York.

Detectives believe the 35-year-old was murdered and in January North Yorkshire Police announced the investigation into her disappearance has been scaled down.

Mr Lawrence said at the time he was "hugely disappointed and depressed" by the move as it remained clear that "someone or some people are wilfully withholding" vital information.

He told The Sun it was a "possibility" that the choir's appearance on Britain's Got Talent would encourage police to reconsider.

:: Britain's Got Talent returned to ITV at 8pm on Saturday.