POLICE investigating the disappearance of University of York chef Claudia Lawrence have said they are now following up a "potentially significant lead".

New CCTV footage of the missing 35-year-old was shown on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme on Thursday night and a fresh appeal for information was made by North Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, who is leading the inquiry.

Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth, York, on March 18 last year and did not arrive for work the following morning.

Police are treating her disappearance as a suspected murder case.

On Friday a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said they received 30 calls after Crimewatch was aired.

"A potentially significant lead is being investigated. However we are unable to give any further details at this stage due to operational reasons."

Friends and family of Miss Lawrence are gathering in the centre of York on Friday for an "awareness day" on the eve of her 36th birthday.