Nicola Bulley: Latest timeline of events as the search to find the mum-of-two enters its third week

Officers are keeping an “open mind” while continuing to appeal for information about Nicola, who disappeared on January 27. The force is continuing to search the River Wyre towards the sea at Morecambe Bay, working on one hypothesis that the 45-year-old, from Inskip could have fallen in.

Their search has been aided by specialists and divers from HM Coastguard, mountain rescue, and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, with sniffer dogs, drones, and police helicopters deployed.

Here is a timeline of the key moments that have unfolded since Nicola Bulley’s disappearance.

Friday, January 27, 2023

Police issue missing person plea, following the disappearance of Nicola Bulley who was last seen at around 9.15am on the footpath by the river off Garstang Road in St Michael’s on Wyre.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

An underwater police search begins at the banks of river Wyre in St Michael's close to where Nicola was last seen.

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Police urge people searching for missing 45-year-old Nicola Bulley not to put themselves in danger in the countryside.

Monday, January 30, 2023

Police renew their appeal for the public’s help to trace Nicola, and Supt Sally Riley says that she believed Nicola’s disappearance is unlikely to be “a crime inquiry”.

Ms Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell, spoke from the family home in Inskip, saying he spent all of Sunday searching for the mother-of-two.

The engineer said: “It is just perpetual hell. It is just utter disbelief.

“We are living through this but it doesn’t feel real.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Following a public appeal for witnesses, police confirmed that a dog walker who may have been in the area at the time Nicola went missing had been found.

Locals continued to rally together with organised walks, as the extensive police search continued.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Teams search an “abandoned house” in a bid to find Nicola, as the parents of a mother-of-two spoke of their “dread” at the thought of never seeing her again.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Detectives searching for missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley confirm they still do not believe another person was involved in her disappearance.

Later that day, police released a CCTV picture of women officers were seeking as a witness, who they believe was in the area at the time Nicola was last seen.

Lancashire Police reveal the last known movements before Nicola’s disappearance.

Friday, February 3, 2023

/nicola-bulley-police-believe-missing-mother-fell-into-river-wyre-and-her-disappearance-is-not-suspicious-4013753/nicola-bulley-police-believe-missing-mother-fell-into-river-wyre-and-her-disappearance-is-not-suspicious-4013753” is still that the mother-of-two fell into the River Wyre while out walking her dog.

Supt Sally Riley, of Lancashire Police, said inquiries so far had left a 10-minute window in which they cannot account for Ms Bulley’s movements – and that they believe she did not leave the riverside area.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Officers leading the search for missing Nicola release images of a key witness who they believe was in the area on the morning of her disappearance.

Lancashire Police say a woman was seen pushing a pram on Garstang Road/Blackpool Lane in St Michael’s on the morning of Friday, January 27.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

A specialist team of underwater search and recovery divers join the hunt, after Lancashire Police initially turned down the offer of free help.

Peter Faulding, a forensic expert from West Sussex, confirmed that his underwater search team and specialist equipment would be deployed to help find the missing woman.

Monday, February 6, 2023

Underwater forensics expert, Peter Faulding, says he is confident his team will find missing mother if she did fall into River Wyre.

The founder and chief executive of Specialist Group International, said his specialist equipment, a high-tech sonar which will scan the riverbed, has a “very high hit rate”, adding: “I can find anything with that.”

Ms Bulley’s friends said they hoped the help of a specialist underwater rescue team would give the family answers.

Speaking to broadcasters, Ms White said the family asked Mr Faulding and his company for help.

She told BBC Breakfast: “Following the hypothesis of the police that Nicola was in the river, we need some evidence to back that up either way and I feel Peter and his amazing bit of kit … is going to come and sweep the river bed and give us answers.”

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

At a press conference, Superintendent Sally Riley reiterated that police do not believe there was any foul play involved in the disappearance and despite over 500 pieces of information currently being reviewed, investigators are yet to find anything conclusive.

River searchers are now spreading out towards the sea at Morecambe.

Members of the public were also warned to refrain from taking the law into their own hands when joining the search effort.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

SGI pulled out of the search on Wednesday and said they were ‘100 percent’ confident Nicola is not in the immediate stretch of water from the bench after searching several miles over two days with special sonar technology.

Mr Faulding, who was pictured at the search scene with Nicola’s partner Paul Ansell, said the case is "baffling" but was glad his team hadn't found a body as it meant Nicola may still be alive somewhere.

Paul spent around 10 minutes close to a bench overlooking the River Wyre speaking to the diving expert about what they had found.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

TikTokers searching for Nicola Bulley were hit with a police dispersal order after they were found snooping around the village where the missing mum vanished.

One group, reportedly from near Liverpool, were warned they faced arrest if they returned and continued to cause alarm to those living in the usually peaceful and picturesque Lancashire village.

Friday, February 10

A silent vigil was held before a small altar, with candles lit around a photo of a smiling Nicola and her partner, Paul Ansell.

A close friend of missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley has told of the “agony” of waiting for news, following the emotional vigil at their local village church two weeks after she vanished.

Outside, lining the road through the village, friends of Nicola again gathered for another roadside appeal. They held up placards featuring her photograph, in a plea to “bring Nikki home”, as they appealed for information.

A new Channel 5 documentary about Nicola is aired, called ‘Vanished: Where Is Nicola Bulley?’. In the hour-long show, Dan Walker explores the circumstances of Nicola Bulley's disappearance, talking to experts, police, and those who know Nicola.

Paul Ansell, Nicola’s partner, told Channel 5: “Extensive searching, you know, as you’re probably aware, has gone on in that river.

“The fact that the divers and underwater rescue team and all that were in that river on the day, and thankfully found absolutely nothing, in the part where you would have to presume is her last known location.

“Personally, I am 100% convinced it’s not the river, that’s my opinion.”