The search for missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley in a Lancashire village has entered its 10th day. Nicola, 45, disappeared on January 27 after dropping her daughters - aged six and nine - off at school.
She was last seen walking her dog Willow along a towpath by the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, on the Fylde. Police began the 10th day of trying to find the mortgage broker this morning (February 5).
Search teams are in operation along the River Wyre, while police have also been patrolling the towpath. Lancashire Police is working to the theory that Nicola fell into the river, possibly as she tried to retrieve a tennis ball.
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Her phone was found left on a bench while Willow was later wandering along the trail 'bone dry'. Some of Nicola's friends and family have spoken out to question the police hypothesis though.
On social media, her sister Louise Cunningham wrote: "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. 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."
Nicola's friend Emma White also told Sky News she had stopped taking a tennis ball out on walks because Willow would 'pester'. She added: "Obviously she loved the tennis ball so she’d always be by you, pestering you for the ball - but it wasn’t a nice walk when the dog’s pestering, so there was definitely no ball."
Officers have urged members of the public not to speculate about Nicola's disappearance. Police have also called out 'totally unacceptable' abuse on social media aimed at people who are assisting police with their enquiries.
Friends, family and villagers have all joined in the effort to try and find Nicola over recent days. The police search has been aided by specialists and divers from HM Coastguard, mountain rescue, and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.
Sniffer dogs, drones and police helicopters have been used as part of the search. Detectives are also continuing their efforts, and spoke to a woman last night who had been identified on CCTV as a key witness.
Police are urging anyone with dashcam footage from the Blackpool Road/Garstang Road area of St Michael’s on January 27, between 9am and 10am, to come forward. A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "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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