CLAUDIA Lawrence's mum says she was warned of a "scruffy man with a spade" acting suspiciously in woodland half a mile away from the current searches.

       And she urged cops to investigate killer taxi driver Christopher Halliwell - as she fears he could be linked to her daughter's disappearance.

       6

       The mum of missing Claudia Lawrence said locals told her they saw a 'scruffy' man with a spade acting suspiciously in woodland half-a-mile from current police searches Credit: PA 6

       And she begged cops to probe the links between Claudia and double murderer Christopher Halliwell Credit: PA

       Police divers are currently searching two fishing lakes eight miles from where Claudia lived in York.

       The chef's mum, Joan Lawrence, said people living near the lakes approached her when her daughter first vanished more than 12 years ago.

       They warned her of a "strange" incident in Buttercrambe Woods, close to the flooded gravel pits, the Mirror reports.

       She said residents saw a "scruffy" man with a spade "acting suspiciously" - and later reported the sighting to police.

       Meanwhile, Joan believes Halliwell could be connected to Claudia's case.

       The murderer is currently serving two life sentences in jail for killing Sian O’Callaghan, 22, and Becky -Godden, 20.

       Most read in The Sun

       Exclusive

       ARK BLOCKED Taliban BLOCKS Pen Farthing and dogs from airport leaving them to die in hours

       VILLA SHOCK Family of Brit millionaire’s wife in 'state of shock' after mystery villa death

       AISLE BE DAMNED Co-op boss warns shortages at 'worst level ever seen' in empty-shelf crisis

       STORE PANIC 3 supermarkets in lockdown after shopper 'injects food with mystery substance'

       HOME ALONE England's most isolated home on the market - can you guess how much it's worth?

       BRIGHT FANS EastEnders fans go wild seeing pregnant Kellie Bright's hunky husband on soap

       Sian was killed just two minutes after she got into Halliwell's cab in Swindon on March 19, 2011. She had been brutally beaten and stabbed.

       Having guided cops to the remote spot where he had dumped her body, Halliwell suddenly confessed: “I’m a sick f***er. I need help. Do you want another one?”

       The fiend then revealed where cops could find the body of Becky - who he'd strangled to death in 2003.

       He had collected 60 items of women’s clothing Only two of the items have been identified – a cardigan worn by Becky, and Sian’s high-heeled boot.

       And Joan said: “Something has always bothered me about Halliwell and leaves me feeling very uneasy.

       “The police may not have proved he had anything to do with my daughter’s disappearance, but they haven’t disproved it either.”

       Claudia, of Heworth, York, was 35 when she was reported missing after failing to turn up for work at the University of York in March 2009.

       Something has always bothered me about Halliwell and leaves me feeling very uneasy

       Joan Lawrence

       Nine people have been questioned by police. However, no one has ever been charged.

       Book The New Millennium Serial Killer claims Halliwell targeted petite women for 20 years.

       Authors Bethan Trueman and Chris Clark - a former intelligence officer - claim Halliwell may have dumped his victims' bodies in or near water after taking their clothes as a trophy.

       Claudia went missing on March 19 2009 - two years to the day before Sian was killed.

       March 19 is a known trigger for Halliwell, who was dumped by an ex on that date.

       Some witnesses say they spotted a man who resembled the killer in the York area before Claudia went missing.

       And Becky Godden's devastated mum has told Joan she believes the "evil monster" killed Claudia too.

       Author Chris told the publication: “We suggest that Claudia knew Halliwell in some way, and that on the morning of her disappearance she left for work as planned, but was intercepted by him.

       MUM 'SAYS EVIL HALLIWELL KILLED CLAUDIA'

       “The pair were spotted by witnesses at the side of the road talking, and perhaps arguing. We believe Claudia then left with Halliwell in his vehicle and that shortly after he murdered her.”

       And Joan said she thinks the police must do more to investigate any potential links between Claudia and Halliwell.

       One officer allegedly told her she could visit Halliwell in prison herself.

       She said: “I was horrified. I’ve lost my daughter and they told me I could go and visit a convicted murderer in prison.”

       Specialist officers are searching the gravel pits and surrounding woodlands.

       North Yorkshire Police previously said: “There are no known links between Halliwell and the Claudia Lawrence case.”

       6

       Police have launched a huge search of woodland not far from Claudia's home in York Credit: PA 6

       It comes more than 12 years after she vanished without trace Credit: SWNS 6

       Divers are also painstakingly searching two flooded quarries Credit: SWNS

       Killer Halliwell is serving two life sentences for the murders of young women

       Claudia Lawrence: Cops search gravel pits after chef, 35, vanished 12 years ago as ‘new info’ emerges after her dad died