A huge police search took place today near to the river where Nicola Bulley went missing 23 days ago, following a tip-off from two walkers.
Sadly, in an update this afternoon, Lancashire Police confirmed that a body has been found. The force has not yet identified the body, but has informed Ms Bulley's family of the development.
Police divers had examined the scene less than a mile from where the mum-of-two was last seen in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith also arrived at the riverside.
A man and a woman were seen pointing to a spot in the River Wyre, while police drones and a helicopter hovered over an outcrop of trees and undergrowth.
The force sealed off nearby roads after receiving a call at around 11.35am.
A photographer at the scene told the Mirror: "It all happened so fast. Police have sealed all the roads off. It's fair to say a massive search is underway."
Lancashire Police said in a statement: "This morning, Sunday, 19 February, you may be aware of police activity around the river near to St Michaels. We want to provide you with an update on that activity.
"We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road.
"An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
"No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time. Procedures to identify the body are ongoing.
"We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
"Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."
It comes over three weeks after Ms Bulley's disappearance, which has triggered a massive investigation centred on the river, which police say she may have fallen into within a "10-minute window".
The 45-year-old had left her home at 8.26am on January 27, dropping her two daughters off at school and engaging in a brief conversation with another parent around 15 minutes later.
She then took Willow for a walk along the path by the River Wyre at 8.43am, heading towards a gate in the lower field and was later seen by a dog walker who knew her.
At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am.
She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting.
Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call.
At 9.33am, another dog walker found her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two, appearing "bone dry and agitated".
Over an hour later, at 10.50am, Ms Bulley's family and the school attended by her children were told about her disappearance.
On February 3, Lancashire Police told the public of its main hypothesis that Ms Bulley had fallen into the river between 9.10am and 9.20am on the day she disappeared.
And at a recent press conference, the force said social media sleuths and "TikTokers playing private detectives" near the scene were distracting search efforts.
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said investigating officers have been "inundated with false information, accusations and rumours" relating to the case.
Asked if "social media video-makers and wannabe detectives have been an annoyance or a hindrance in the inquiry", she said: "Yes, it has significantly distracted the investigation.
"In 29 years' police service I've never seen anything like it. Some of it's been quite shocking and really hurtful to the family.
"Obviously, we can't disregard anything and we've reviewed everything that's come in but of course it has distracted us significantly."
Ms Smith also addressed what she called "persistent myths" about the case.
"The derelict house which is across the other side of the river has been searched three times, with the permission of the owner, and Nicola is not in there," she said.
"The red van... we're really grateful to members of the public for ringing in to the inquiry, we wouldn't have got this far without everyone's help.
"But it's also really obvious that we are being inundated with false information, accusations and rumours, which is distracting us from our work."
The force also referred to Ms Bulley's "vulnerabilities" in the weeks before her disappearance that they say made her "high risk".
They added in a statement that she had been struggling with alcohol issues and the menopause, and had stopped taking HRT medication.
It later came under heavy criticism for revealing the details, with Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt describing the disclosure of private information as "shocking".
And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "concerned that private information was put into the public domain" by officers.
He told broadcasters he was "pleased that the police are looking at how that happened in the investigation".
A source close to the Home Secretary previously said Suella Braverman was also "concerned" and demanded an explanation from police on Thursday.
Confirming he agreed with Ms Braverman, the PM told broadcasters: "Well I agree with the Home Secretary, and like her I was concerned that private information was put into the public domain.
"I'm pleased that the police are looking at how that happened in the investigation.
"Obviously my thoughts are with Nicola's friends and family and the focus must now be on continuing to try and find her."
Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was assessing information to determine whether an investigation would be necessary over the contact officers had with Ms Bulley on January 10.
The referral came after her family called for an end to the "speculation and rumours" about her private life.
In a statement issued through the force on Thursday, Ms Bulley's family said: "We, as a family, believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her and Paul's private life.
"As a family, we were aware beforehand that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details about our Nikki.
"Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop."
Ms Bulley's family said significant side effects of the perimenopause she suffered included brain fog.
Their statement continued: "Due to the perimenopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis.
"The public focus has to be on finding her and not making up wild theories about her personal life.
"Despite what some media outlets and individuals are suggesting, we are being updated daily and receive support from our family liaison officers."
Concluding their statement, Ms Bulley's family said: "Nikki is such a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and mother and is missed dearly."
