A body has been pulled from the River Wyre close to where Nicola Bulley went missing, Lancashire Police have confirmed this afternoon.
Police said officers were called to reports of a body in the water at St Michael's on Wyre shorty after 11.30am this morning. The force said it was unable to confirm whether the body is that of the missing mum at this stage.
Police issued an update confirming a body has been found after a large police presence was spotted near to the site, with divers also seen searching the water.
READ MORE: Police identify body pulled from River Wyre as missing mum Nicola Bulley
The full statement from police reads: "This morning, Sunday, 19 February, you may be aware of police activity around the river near to St Michaels. We want to provide you with an update on that activity.
"We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road. An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
"No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time. Procedures to identify the body are on-going.
"We are currently treating the death as unexplained. Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."
Nicola, 45, from Inskip in Lancashire went missing on the morning of January 27 while she was walking her dog Willow. A large search operation was launched with specialist divers searching the water near to where Nicola went missing during the first two weeks of the investigation, but divers were unable to locate her.
Police later said they were moving the search out towards the sea. This week, police came under fire after making Nicola’s struggles with alcohol and peri-menopause public three weeks after she vanished.
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- Nicola Bulley: Former DCI says seven key questions must be answered
