Police are speaking to a 'potentially key witness' as the search for missing mum Nicola Bulley continues. Nicola, 45, disappeared on Friday morning (January 27) while making a conference call from a bench as she was walking pet dog Willow.
She was last seen at around 9.15am while walking along a footpath to a river and police said there was no evidence of any criminal activity or that Nicola has been attacked. There are reports that Nicola had her camera off and was muted during the call she was on when she disappeared.
A huge search has since been launched near Garstang Road in St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire.
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In an update on Tuesday evening, police said they were speaking to a ''potentially key witness' after an appeal had been put out to find him. They believe he was in the area at the time Nicola went missing.
In a statement, Nicola's family said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support from our community and would like to thank everyone for their ongoing efforts to help us find Nicola.
"The girls are desperate to have their mummy back home safe with them and your ongoing efforts have provided comfort to them whilst we await news on Nicola. We ask for anyone who thinks they may have any Information that may help the police find Nicola to please come forward and help them with their enquiries."
Willow was found loose from its lead and harness an hour after she was last seen by a member of the public. They recognised Willow and raised the alarm with police at 10.30am.
The mum-of-two appeared to know the route very well and shared pictures of her previous walks on social media, MirrorOnline reports. In November, she shared a selfie while walking along the river and wrote: "A very foggy cold walk this morning, not a day to forget your gloves!
"Bit Spooky too! Set me up for the day though and Willow had the best time".
Nicola is white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent and was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive-green ankle wellies. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.
The coastguard and Bowland Mountain Rescue Team are assisting with the search.
Supt Sally Riley said: "We remain extremely concerned for Nicola and we continue to do everything we can to try and find her and to provide some answers for her family who are obviously beside themselves with worry. I must stress at this time that this remains a missing person inquiry and at this time there is nothing to suggest any third-party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance.
"We appreciate there is also a great deal of concern in the local community, and we appreciate people want to help. However, parts of the riverbank are treacherous, and we would ask that nobody puts themselves in danger and that the police and partner agencies’ efforts to find Nicola are not compromised.
"If anybody has any questions or concerns, they are welcome to speak to officers in the area."
Anybody who has seen Nicola, or has information about where she might be, is asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30. For immediate sightings call 999.
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