THE father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has welcomed a new law making life easier for relatives of those missing, presumed dead.

Solicitor Peter Lawrence said he was delighted the Presumption of Death Act had now been granted Royal Assent - the final hurdle in its progress to becoming law.

It means that it will be easier for people to settle the affairs of missing relatives, allowing them to be presumed dead after seven years.

Mr Lawrence, along with the charity Missing People, was among those who spearheaded the campaign for better rights for the families of missing people.

His daughter Claudia, born in Darlington but raised in Malton, North Yorkshire, was a chef at York University.

She vanished four years ago at the age of 35 and there has been no trace of her since. Police are treating her case as suspected murder.

“The Act will, when brought into force, help enormously those families who have previously struggled to officially establish the death of a loved one who has been missing,” said Mr Lawrence, of Slingsby, near Malton.

“For those many families, such as mine, who still have hope, I will continue to campaign for the right to deal with and preserve assets.

“I am pleased that Parliamentarians who have helped with this Bill will continue to press the Minister and the department to move on quickly to establish these rights.”

The Missing Rights campaign continues to seek the introduction of “Guardianship” laws which will help thousands of families when someone goes missing for a short period of time.

It would enable relatives to keep the affairs of the missing person in order in their absence.