THE mum of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has said she wants to comfort Libby Squire’s parents after being struck by the similarities in the two cases.

Distraught Joan Lawrence, 75, said the news of Libby’s disappearance after a night out made her “sit up and think”.

She revealed that it brought back upsetting memories of her own daughter, who was last seen 10 years ago today.

"I sit up and think when I see these things because it's so similar really,” she told York Press.

“I was quite upset when I saw about Libby Squires, because she's got long, dark hair and you can't help but be reminded when you see the searches going on.”

She urged Libby’s parents to contact her if they need any support amid fears the 21-year-old student was snatched from a street in Hull.

"I understand how they feel, know exactly where they are coming from and if they would like to get in touch with me, I'm a good listener,” Mrs Lawrence said.

“It really helps if you talk to someone in the same situation. I have a lot of friends and they are really great, but say they can't imagine what it's like."

Libby, 21, vanished on January 31 after returning home alone following a night out with friends in Hull.

It is feared Libby may have been snatched after she got out of a taxi near her student digs.

DECADE SINCE CLAUDIA'S DISAPPEARANCE
Today marks a decade since Claudia, who was a chef at the University of York, disappeared at the age of 35.

Although no body has ever been found, North Yorkshire Police have been treating her disappearance as a suspected murder investigation.

10 years on, Mrs Lawrence said she feels badly let down by officers.

The 75-year-old, who fears she will die before any answers are found, has accused police of a catalogue of errors.

“I was promised everything was being done to find Claudia, instead one catastrophic mistake was made after another,” she told The Mirror.

“The ultimate consequences are that even now I am woken in the dead of night, haunted by images of what could have happened to her.

“Because I don’t have answers, I wake up, frozen with terror. Was Claudia frightened, is she still frightened?”

'VITAL INFO WITHHELD'
Police have said that the search for Claudia could be being hampered by the withholding of vital information.

Nine people have been arrested or interviewed under caution in connection with the investigation, but there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn said: "It remains the case that we strongly suspect key and vital information is being withheld that could provide the breakthrough that we all want to see, not least Claudia's heartbroken family.

"Unless we get information or intelligence to suggest that Claudia came to harm as a result of an opportunity taken by someone unconnected to her, me and the team still strongly believe the answer lies locally.

"As with some recent cold case successes, the breakthrough has come from the public and we still have confidence that this will be the case."

Following Miss Lawrence's disappearance, searches were initially focused on the route between her home on Heworth Road and the University of York.

Hundreds of officers across various forces were initially involved but the investigation has been scaled back over the years.

LACK OF CCTV
Mr Malyn added that the investigation has so far been hindered by a lack of CCTV around Claudia’s home, as well as the fact that she had neither a smart phone or a social media profile when she vanished.

"We know also that her mobile phone didn't leave the area before it left the phone network," he added

"This again is a reason I don't believe she fell victim to an attack by a stranger.

"Also, we have no actual scene where something untoward may have happened to her despite fresh forensic assessments of her house, car and other locations."

The force explained how members of the public are still coming forward with information.

Despite being "well intentioned", much of this is based on speculation or theory, Det Supt Malyn said.

"The call we really want is the one that helps piece together the parts of the jigsaw we already know regarding her last movements and people she associated with and places frequented," he added.

The huge search for Libby was scaled down on February 16 but continues as detectives examine new clues.

Detective Superintendent Martin Smalley, said: "More work is now taking place behind the scenes rather than in public view, however this does not mean the investigation is slowing or coming to an end, it is exactly the opposite and is very much active and ongoing."