Tributes are being paid to Peter Lawrence, the father of missing York woman Claudia Lawrence, following his death.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police handout

Mr Lawrence died aged 74 on Thursday at St Leonard's Hospice in York following a short illness his family said in a statement. His daughter vanished in the city 12 years ago.

Police believe she was murdered but her body has never been found.

Martin Dales, a close friend of Mr Lawrence for more than 30 years, said: "He couldn't have done more than he did to find Claudia. I'm in admiration reflecting on it over the last few days.

"And he's died now without the knowledge of what has happened to Claudia."

Mr Lawrence campaigned for the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudia's Law, which was passed in April 2017.

Claudia's Law came into force in July 2019. It allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones' financial matters.

Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake said: "Much that his life was marred by the terrible tragedy he put his efforts in to something more purposeful that helped not just him but also many other people."

Nine people have been questioned as part of the investigation into Claudia's disappearance, but no charges have ever been brought.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A prolonged dispute over tree felling in Sheffield has prompted another local authority to consider changing its approach to dealing with street trees.

Image source, Sheffield Trees Action Group

Doncaster Council's new policy follows anger after trees were removed on Middlefield Road in Bessacarr leading to protests and an arrest last year.

The council said it is committed to the principle of "minimal tree removal" as a last resort and where no alternative solution can be found.

Bethany Haley, of Doncaster council, said the authority is wary of protests in the town turning into a long-running feud as happened in Sheffield.

She said: "Following high profile tree issues in Sheffield and recent discussions with activists around Doncaster tree removal schemes, an independent tree policy review was initiated [to ensure Doncaster's] policy was fit for purpose."

The strategy includes planting 100 large trees along the town's main highways.

This will "improve the environment and help increase canopy cover in the borough" and would take four years, the council said.

Following the protests in 2020, the council said the trees needed to be removed on safety grounds, but campaigners argued there were alternative options without ripping the tree out of the ground.

In July 2019, Sheffield Council agreed a U-turn on its strategy over tree-felling.

The review will be discussed on Friday.

Motorists are being warned to expect delays after an HGV overturned on the Dearne Valley Parkway.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The incident happened shortly before 09:00 near to the Rockingham Roundabout.

South Yorkshire Police say one lane is closed, external and drivers can expect delays until the vehicle is removed.

BBC Weather

Today will be a dry and very mild day, with temperatures into double figures and a gentle breeze.

It should be dry this evening, with patchy cloud. Spells of rain overnight could turn heavy in places:

The father of missing Claudia Lawrence has died without ever knowing what happened to his daughter.

Image source, PA Media

Peter Lawrence, who was 74, died on Thursday at St Leonard's Hospice in York following a short illness, his family said in a statement.

His death comes 12 years after his daughter vanished in the city.

Police believe Claudia - who was 35 when she was last seen on 18 March 2009 - was murdered but her body has never been found.

Mr Lawrence's family said in a statement: "It is sad that nearly 12 years after Claudia's disappearance from York, Peter never found out what has happened to her."

Mr Lawrence campaigned for the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudia's Law, which was passed in April 2017.

Claudia's Law, which came into force in July 2019, allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones' financial matters.

Mr Lawrence described being "hugely disappointed and depressed" when in January 2017 detectives said they were scaling back the investigation.

Miss Lawrence was reported missing after she failed to turn up for work at the University of York.

Police previously said they "strongly suspect key and vital information" which would offer a breakthrough was being "withheld".

Nine people have been questioned as part of the investigation, but no charges have ever been brought.