THREE men arrested on suspicion of murdering chef Claudia Lawrence have been released on police bail "to allow detectives time to follow up lines of enquiry".

The men, who are aged in their fifties and from the York area, were taken into custody yesterday while being interviewed by detectives from North Yorkshire Police's major crime unit.

The arrests follow the arrest of a man in his fifties, from York, on March 23.

He remains on police bail while enquiries continue.

Miss Lawrence, who lived in the Heworth area of the city, vanished in March 2009.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “I am once again very grateful to the media and the public for supporting my request that these individuals should under no circumstances be identified, either in traditional media or on social media platforms.

"That is because identification is an issue, and publishing the men’s identities could cause serious harm to my investigation.

"This continues to be the case, even though the men have been released on bail, and I once more ask that the media and public continue to support me and make no attempt to identify the men, their home addresses, places of work or their vehicles.”

Miss Lawrence’s family, who lived in Darlington before moving to Malton, have been informed about the men being released on bail and are being supported.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.