Officers investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have found a potential witness who may have seen the mum before she vanished.
Lancashire Constabulary yesterday appealed for help tracing a woman seen on CCTV pushing a pram close to the Rive Wyre on the morning Nicola was last seen. A few hours later, officers confirmed that she had come forward, stressing that she was "very much being treated as a witness".
The search for Nicola, 45, has entered its tenth day, with specialists scouring the river and surrounding area yesterday. The mum-of-two was last seen walking her dog on the morning of January 27.
Police have still been unable to provide the family with the answers they need, but said evidence currently suggests Nicola fell into the river after encountering an "issue" with her springer spaniel, Willow. But the Mirror reported that her sister has urged the public to keep an "open mind" and says there is no evidence to support this theory.
The dog was found dry without her harness and collar, while Nicola's phone was found balanced on a bench overlooking the river. Detectives have trawled through CCTV and found nothing to suggest evidence of third-party involvement, but have yet to give her families the answers they desperately need.
Yesterday they issued a photo of a woman in a yellow coat who they said was a potential witness. Hours later the force said it was "pleased to say that the woman came forward very quickly",
In a statement published on its Facebook page, police hit out at "speculation and abuse" on social media, saying that Nicola's disappearance is still a live investigation.
It said: "We must stress that she was very much being treated as a witness and was one of many people in St Michael's on Friday, January 27th. Our enquiries to find Nicola are extensive and will include speaking to as many members of the public as possible.
"The speculation and abuse on social media aimed at some people who are merely assisting our enquiry is totally unacceptable. We would urge people to remember that we are investigating the disappearance of Nicola, and the priority is Nicola and her family.
"We want to find her and provide answers to her family."
Ms Bulley had logged in to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am, which ended at 9.30am with her phone still connected to the call. She was seen by another dog walker at 9.10am - the last known sighting - and police traced records of her mobile phone as it remained on a bench overlooking the river at 9.20am.
The phone was found by a dog walker at around 9.35am, with Willow nearby. Superintendent Sally Riley told a press briefing it was "possible" Nicola toppled into the river while trying to retrieve a tennis ball.
Superintendent Riley told the MailOnline after the press conference: "I'm not aware of a dog ball being retrieved but it's possible that a ball could have rolled down the steep bank close to the edge of the water and Ms Bulley was bending down to pick it up.
"What she was wearing could also be a factor."
In a Facebook post, Ms Bulley's sister, Louise Cunningham, urged people to "keep an open mind" as there is "no evidence whatsoever" that the dog walker fell in the river. Off the back of the latest Police media update, please can I add there is no evidence whatsoever that she has gone into the river, it's just a theory," she said.
"Everyone needs to keep an open mind as not all CCTV and leads have been investigated fully, the police confirmed the case is far from over."
Ms Bulley's friend, Emma White, also cast doubt on the police theory, telling Sky News it was based on "limited information". When we are talking about a life we can't base it on a hypothesis - surely we need this factual evidence," she said.
"That's what the family and all of us are holding on to - that we are sadly no further on than last Friday. We still have no evidence, and that's why we're out together in force. You don't base life on a hypothesis."
The police 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. Detectives are also working behind the scenes to analyse CCTV and dashcam videos, and members of the public with footage which could be useful have been urged to come forward.
Anyone with information or footage has been asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30.
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