Eight clues in search for Nicola Bulley as new witnesses report 'suspicious' men and 'tatty red van'

Searches for missing Nicola Bulley have now entered the 18th day as her devastated husband has expressed that his 'gut instinct' is that she is not in the river. Lancashire Police are said to be keeping an 'open mind' as the investigation continues into the mum-of-two who disappeared on January 27 while walking her dog in St Michaels on Wyre.

However, the force is maintaining their main hypothesis that the 45-year-old might have fallen into the River Wyre and have now expanded the hunt towards the sea at Morecambe Bay, the Mirror reports. Police have been aided by specialists and divers from HM Coastguard, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, mountain rescue, drones, sniffer dogs and police helicopters who have all been deployed to help locate Nicola.

The mortgage advisor was last seen walking her springer spaniel Willow near the river on the morning she disappeared after dropping off her two young daughters at primary school. Despite not finding any evidence of the mum falling into the river 18 days on, police are continuing to treat the incident as a missing person inquiry and have dismissed foul play.