A MAN arrested earlier this year on suspicion of murdering Claudia Lawrence has been released from police bail.

The 60-year-old was held on May 13 by North Yorkshire Police, which says the investigation into Miss Lawrence’s disappearance remains active.

The man was named locally as Michael Snelling, a former lab technician who lived in York.

A 46-year-old man arrested on July 23 this year on suspicion of perverting the course of justice remains on police bail.

North Yorkshire Police say “significant enquiries” continue to be made into the circumstances surrounding Claudia’s disappearance in March 2009 and there remains the possibility that further arrests in this case will be made.

A spokesman for the inquiry said today (Monday, November 17) it remained a “live investigation with new lines of enquiry being actively pursued” and urged the media and public not to publish anything on traditional or social media that could compromise the investigation.

In September this year, Peter Lawrence marked 2,000 days since his daughter went missing and renewed his appeals for anyone still with information to hand it to police.

Martin Dales, a spokesman for Peter Lawrence, Claudia’s father, said: “It’s good to see the police are still carrying on their work with serious intent.”

Miss Lawrence was last seen as she made her way home from the University of York, where she worked as a cook.

At about the time of the fifth anniversary of her disappearance, detectives announced a series of new leads following a review of the case by the force’s Major Crime Unit.

They carried out a detailed re-examination of Miss Lawrence’s home in the Heworth area of York using modern forensic techniques not available at the time of the original investigation. They also launched a fresh appeal for information on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme earlier this year, which resulted in 121 people coming forward with information.

Officers said at the time of the TV appeal that they were interested in the Acomb area of York.

They said evidence derived from calls made from Miss Lawrence's missing mobile phone suggested she had been spending time in the Acomb area in the weeks up to her disappearance.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and pass details to the Force Control Room. Please quote “Claudia Lawrence” when passing on details.

Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting “Claudia Lawrence, North Yorkshire Police”. Alternatively, go to www.crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in an Anonymous Online Form.

For further information on the Claudia Lawrence investigation, go to the dedicated microsite on the North Yorkshire Police website; www.northyorkshire.police.uk/claudialawrence