Nicola Bulley: Police not treating 45-year-old mum’s disappearance ‘as anything other than a missing person inquiry.’

Three days on, officers say they are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of the mother of two, who was last seen at 9.15am with her pet spaniel Willow on the banks of the river Wyre near St Michael’s.

The police officer leading the investigation said today she believed Nicola’s disappearance was unlikely to be “a crime inquiry”. Nicola’s mobile phone was later found on a bench near to the river. Her dog was also located nearby running free.

Supt Sally Riley said: “We are not treating the investigation as anything other than a missing person inquiry. These are unusual events and people should be reassured that we are doing everything we can to try and find her.”

Police said Nicola was on a conference call with other people shortly before her disappearance, but then placed her phone down, leaving the line open.

But despite extensive searches by helicopter, boats and on foot, they have found nothing.

Supt Riley appealed at an outdoor press conference near the scene today for anyone who was driving through St Michael’s at around 9.15am on Friday to examine dashcam footage and contact them on 101. Nicola began her walk on the road bridge over the river. They also urged anyone who was walking along the towpath from the village on Garstang Road to get in touch.

She said: "If anyone has any information that could help, please come forward.

"We are really concerned about Nicola. We have searched an extensive area. We have been very thorough. We are keeping a really open mind about what could have happened.

"We think the likelihood is Nicola has gone missing and it is not crime inquiry. It’s shocking. It is a very close knit community and it is unusual for people missing in these circumstance. It is very sad and we are doing everything we can to find her safe and well.”

Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen on the morning of January 27, when she was spotted walking her dog on a footpath by the River Wyre off Garstang Road in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.

Searches have been carried out by Lancashire Police using drones and police dogs over the weekend, with support from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue team and the North West Underwater Search Team.

Local community members have also organised search efforts across the St Michael’s area and were today thanked by the police for the help they have given. Supt Riley said: “We are very grateful to those who have turned out in their droves to help. They are clearly concerned for Nicola, as are we.

"Clearly as time goes on we naturally become more and more concerned for her safety.”

Ms Bulley, from Inskip, Lancashire, is described as white, 5ft 3in, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent and was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive green ankle wellies. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.

She was walking her brown-coloured spaniel immediately prior to going missing, although the dog has since been found.

Chief Inspector Chris Barton, of Lancashire Police, thanked the public for their help but urged anyone helping with the search not to put themselves in danger. He added: “Nicola has now been missing for two days and we are extremely concerned about her.

“Firstly, if anybody saw her on Friday morning and has not yet been spoken to by police, or if anybody has any other information about where she might be, please get in touch with us straight away.

“Enquiries are very much ongoing and we have a team of detectives working tirelessly to establish the circumstances around her disappearance, in addition to a large team of police officers, partner agency and volunteer groups on the ground searching the area around where she was last seen.

“We are following a number of lines of inquiry and are keeping an open mind at this stage about what has occurred.

“We appreciate there is a great deal of concern in the local area and that people want to help, however we would ask that nobody puts themselves in any danger.

“If anybody has any questions or concerns they are welcome to speak to officers in the area.”

Anybody who has information should call 101, quoting log 473 of January 27th, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.