EFFORTS to solve the riddle of the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence have been given renewed impetus as more leads emerge.

A total of 121 people have come forward to help the investigation since a series of new appeals were made by the police just a month ago.

And more than 28,500 pages have been viewed on their new Claudia Lawrence microsite by more than 12,700 who have visited it.

Darlington-born Claudia, a chef at York University, disappeared in 2009 and despite one of the biggest investigations North Yorkshire police have ever mounted there has been no trace of her since.

But all the new information which has been generated is now being analysed and the head of the force’s major crime unit, Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn described it as “encouraging and impressive despite the five-year gap.”

Fresh appeals are being made for lines of inquiry which are now being highlighted on the microsite at northyorkshire.police.uk/claudialawrence.

These include a direct appeal to local taxi drivers who may have dropped Claudia off in the Acomb area of York sometime before she disappeared or picked her up early in the morning.

“As we confirmed last month, further analysis on Claudia’s phone activity showed that she was regularly visiting Acomb in the weeks leading up to her disappearance,” said Supt Malyn.

“The investigation team need more taxi drivers to make contact to help establish more details on this line of enquiry.”

A possible new line that has emerged concerns the missing woman’s blue and grey Karrimor rucksack, which police area also anxious to trace.

A similar rucksack was spotted near the university at about 1pm on March 19, 2009, the day Claudia disappeared.

“The location was a grassy area off a footpath which runs between Heslington Road and Walmgate Stray, which is just past the Retreat if you were heading towards the university,” said Supt Malyn.

“If someone temporarily left the rucksack there and can confirm it is not connected to the investigation, please come forward as soon as possible.”

A £10,000 reward is on offer from Crimestoppers for information which leads to an arrest and conviction and callers can remain anonymous.

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option one, and pass details to the force control room.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111 or visit their website at crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in an anonymous online form.