'Missing women' rumour dismissed

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Detectives investigating the suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence have dismissed rumours that more women have gone missing in York.

Police said "spurious" text messages and entries on the Facebook website were being circulated, claiming more women have disappeared.

"That is not the case," a police spokeswoman said.

Miss Lawrence, 35, was last seen on her way home from work at the University of York's Goodricke College.

Left-handed smoker

A police statement added: "The circumstances of Claudia's disappearance are extremely unusual and as previously stated by detectives investigating her disappearance, we believe that Claudia has gone with someone she knows.

"York and North Yorkshire are among the safest areas of the country and cases of this nature are very rare.

"If you are concerned by the content of any text messages you receive, please contact police."

Police want to trace a couple seen on the Melrosegate Bridge

Last week detectives said they wanted to speak to a man and a woman who were seen by a cyclist on Melrosegate Bridge at 0535 GMT on Thursday, 19 March.

Police said so far no one had come forward with any information about the pair.

The man is described as skinny and about 5ft 6in tall. He was wearing dark trousers and a dark hooded top with the hood up and was holding a cigarette in his left hand.

The woman is described as smaller than the man, with mousy-brown hair. She was wearing a blue, waist-length jacket.

Det Supt Ray Galloway, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are appealing to any other members of the public who were in the area on the Thursday morning and may have seen two people on the bridge, or anyone who knows a left-handed smoker who matches the man's description to come forward as a matter of urgency.

"They could have vital information which could help our investigation.

"It may be that the man and woman are totally unconnected to the enquiry, but we need them to come forward to enable us to eliminate them."