Three men have today been arrested on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence . Three men have today been arrested on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence. North Yorkshire police confirmed the men - all aged in their 50s and from the York area - were arrested this morning. The body of the missing chef, who was 35 when she disappeared in 2009, has still not been found. Officers have now launched a fresh search for evidence which could lead to her whereabouts, which is set to continue over a number of days. Police and forensic officers have been working at three houses not far from where Miss Lawrence lived in the Heworth area of York before she went missing six years ago. It is understood the three men have not been arrested before and they remain in custody. A man, in his 50s and from the York area, was arrested last month on suspicion of her murder. He was later released on bail. A 60-year-old man was arrested last year in connection with her disappearance and suspected murder but was later released without charge. Miss Lawrence was last seen on March 18, 2009. She was reported missing by her father after concerns were raised when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift at the University of York. Detectives began reviewing the case in 2013 and have since carried out a number of searches, including a detailed re-examination of Miss Lawrence's home, in the Heworth area of York, and a fingertip search of an alleyway that leads to the rear of the house. They have also issued previously unseen CCTV footage of two people walking near the house. The new arrests, and the arrest in March, are understood to be linked to these lines of inquiry. Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police's Major Crime Unit and the senior investigating officer in the Claudia Lawrence inquiry, said: 'I urge everyone to again show restraint and patience while we carry out these very important enquiries. Your co-operation and support is greatly appreciated by the investigation team.' Father and daughter: Miss Lawrence (right) was reported missing by her father Peter (left) after concerns were raised when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift at the University of York . Police removing evidence from a house in York. Two houses nearby to Miss Lawrence's are being searched by police, who have cordoned off half of one street . Officers have now launched a fresh search for evidence which could lead to her whereabouts, which is set to continue over a number of days . Police stand outside houses in York after the arrests were made at 7am today . There has been a £10,000 reward for information which will lead to the whereabouts of Miss Lawrence . Two houses nearby to Miss Lawrence's are being searched by police, who have cordoned off half of one street with crime scene tape . People living around the homes that are being searched said officers arrived just before 7am. At the address nearest to Miss Lawrence home, uniformed police wearing face masks could be seen carrying out brown evidence bags. At another property, forensics officers wearing white protective suits were clearly at work. Each of the houses is under police guard. Martin Dales, friend of Claudia's father, said the new arrests were a positive movement in the investigation but that progress was a series of ups and downs for the family. Speaking outside the chef's house, he said: 'Peter finds it very hard, going up and down. 'You feel like you might be getting somewhere and then you get let down. 'Three arrests is certainly a big movement for the police though. 'That's four people in the space of one month. Claudia Lawrence, pictured aged 27 in 2001, as a bridesmaid at her aunt's wedding in North Yorkshire. Fresh searches are being conducted which are expected to be ongoing over a number of days . Police conduct searches in  York, at the home of Miss Lawrence. Searches are being conducted which are expected to be ongoing over a number of days . 'The public has been tremendous in keeping information coming which has helped the police.' Mr Dales added: 'Someone is withholding the truth and that is despicable. 'Imagine if it was your daughter and you were sitting around waiting for answers and somebody, for their own skin, was trying to be obstructive. 'I hope the full force of the law comes down on them.' A resident living near one of the houses said police arrived at around 7am today. Tommy Ward, 81, said: 'It started off with one police car then a few more came. 'It was just around about 7am when everything started up. 'I was outside my house watching the world go by at the time. 'I haven't seen anyone arrested but a few weeks ago some sniffer dogs were . there in the same house. We've had dogs a few times now. I don't know the person who lives there.' Peter Lawrence, father of the missing chef, with a photograph of his daughter in the chapel at Bishopthorpe Palace, York . Mr Lawrence has previously spoken of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and pleaded for anyone with information to come forward . Miss Lawrence was last seen on March 18, 2009 . 2009 . March 18 . 5.57am - Miss Lawrence is captured on CCTV arriving for work at the University of York's Goodricke College . 2.31pm - The chef leaves work to walk the three miles to her home on Heworth Road. A female colleague sees her as she drives past in her car and gives her a lift, dropping her off outside her house . 3.05pm - The last sighting of Miss Lawrence as she walks back to her house. 8.10pm - Miss Lawrence has a telephone conversation with her father, Peter, and then another with her mother, Joan . 8.23pm - She sends a text message to a friend . 9.12pm - Miss Lawrence receives a text on her mobile phone but it is not known if she read the message . March 19 . 6am - Miss Lawrence fails to arrive for her shift at work . April 24 . Detectives say they are treating Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a suspected murder . 2010 . March 18 . Police reveal Ms Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend just two days before she went missing. It was 'critical' they spoke to the man, a detective adds . May 25 . Police confirm they have spent two days searching a house about ten miles from Claudia's home as a result of a 'recent development' July 29 . Police confirm they are scaling back the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry . 2011 . March 18 . On the second anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway reveals that he could have 'potentially' spoken to her killer . 2012 . March 16 . Peter Lawrence speaks of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and makes a plea for anyone who may still harbour a sense of 'misguided loyalty' to come forward and help with the police investigation . 2013 . October 29 . Police announce that a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case . 2014 . March 17 . Mr Lawrence, speaking ahead of the fifth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, says not knowing what happened to his daughter five years after she disappeared is like a 'cancer' eating away at him . March 19 . Police say a new forensic examination of Claudia's house has uncovered the fingerprints of people who still have not come forward five years after she disappeared. They say they are seeking to trace two men and two vehicles seen near her home . May 13 . A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the disappearance, and later released without charge . July 23 . Pub landlord Paul Harris, then 46, is arrested on suspicion on perverting the course of justice . 2015 . March 23 . A 59-year-old father-of-two from the York area is arrested on suspicion of murdering Miss Lawrence and released on bail the next day . April 14 . Mr Harris - now aged 47 - is released from bail after providing information to detectives which has progressed the investigation, police say . April 22 . Three men in their 50s arrested on suspicion of murder. Police launch fresh search for evidence. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
Police confirmed the men are all aged in their 50s and from the York area .
Comes after another man, in his 50s and from York, arrested last month .
The latest men to be held by police are believed to be fresh arrests .
Body of missing chef, 35 when she disappeared in 2009, hasn't been found .