Police have today appealed for a witness who they believe was in the area at the time dog walker Nicola Bulley went missing five days ago.
Nicola, 45, was last seen walking the family dog Willow at the footpath of a river at 9.15am on Friday.
Today, Lancashire Police released a statement saying a man they believed was aged around 70 was in the area at the time.
A spokesperson said in a statement: "We are especially keen to find a witness we believe was in the area at the time Nicola went missing.
"He is described as a man aged around 70, white, six ft tall, well-built who was walking a small white fluffy dog on a lead.
"He spoke to a woman in the area before walking in the direction of Rowanwater.
"If this is you, or if you know who this could be, please get in touch."
It comes as Nicola's family have said her little girls are "desperate to have their mummy back".
A search of the area involving police specialist resources, working alongside colleagues from the Coastguard and Bowland Mountain Rescue, is continuing.
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.”
The alarm was raised by a member of the public who recognised Nicola's brown cocker spaniel Willow.
They recognised Willow, who was loose from its lead and harness, a raised the alarm with the police at 10.30am.
Lancashire Police said they found a mobile phone belonging to Nicola on a nearby bench, along with the dog lead and harness.
Superintendent Sally Riley told the Mirror police had found Nicola’s phone still ‘active’ on the bench and began searching for her immediately.
Supt Riley said: “It was on a meeting call, and that was still live it was connected to the conference call and that hadn’t been terminated.”
She was on a work call at the time she disappeared, but she appeared to have her camera off and was muted at the time.
Ben Pociecha, the director of Exclusively Mortgages, told The Daily Telegraph that she had logged onto a team meeting at 9.01am on Friday.
“It seems as if she was muted and didn’t have her camera on. She was listening in whilst walking her dog,” he said.
“There were numerous parties involved in this. A lot of people attended the call. The police are investigating the call.”
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 30th. For immediate sightings please call 999.
