A woman seen walking a pram on the morning of Nicola Bulley's disappearance who was described as a potential 'key witness' has come forward. Lancashire Police released a CCTV image of the woman wearing a yellow coat on the morning of January 27.
The force insists she is one of many people who was in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, at the time and is only being treated as a witness. Members of the public are being urged not to speculate online, with police describing abuse hurled on social media following yesterday's CCTV appeal as 'totally unacceptable'.
In an update late last night (February 4), a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "Earlier this evening as part of our search for Nicola Bulley, we put out an appeal to find a witness in St Michael’s on Wyre. We are pleased to say that the woman came forward very quickly and 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 27.
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"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."
Nicola, 45, was last seen walking her dog Willow along a towpath on the morning of January 27 after dropping her children off at school. She is believed to have signed into a work conference call at 9am, while a friend described receiving a text from her moments before, making plans for the week ahead.
Nicola's dog was later found wandering alone 'bone dry'. Police believe the mortgage broker may have fallen into the River Wyre while trying retrieve her dog's tennis ball - but her sister has urged people to keep an open mind, insisting there is no evidence for their theory.
Officers are continuing to search for Nicola. As part of the effort, Lancashire Police is asking drivers for dashcam footage from the Blackpool Road/Garstang Road area of St Michael’s on January 27, from between 9am and 10am.
A police spokesperson added: "Whilst you may not think that you hold any relevant information, it is really important that we gather as much footage as possible in the area that morning so we can review every piece meticulously to establish whether Nicola can be seen. We know from the footage we are currently reviewing, that this is a busy road, particularly at that time in the morning.
"There will be many people who were in that area at the time who may not think they can help, we would urge you not to make that decision yourself and to come forward so we can have as much material as possible to assist the investigation."
Anyone with information or footage is asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30. For immediate sightings of Nicola, please call 999.
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