The partner of Nicola Bulley has confided in a friend that he's "trying to be strong for the girls" as she's been missing for a week.
The mortgage adviser, 45, disappeared last Friday morning while walking her brown spaniel Willow along the River Wyre in the tight-knit village of St Michael's-on-Wyre in Lancashire.
The alarm was raised when someone recognised Nicola's dog running loose and found its harness and the mum's mobile phone nearby.
They phoned her daughters' school who then contacted her partner Paul Ansell.
The 44-year-old has told friends he's trying to hold it together for their daughters, aged nine and six, who "want to go out and find mummy".
The family friend, who did not want to be named, told The Mirror: "I am speaking to him most days. They are close friends of ours.
"He’s trying to be strong for the girls. They want to go out and find mummy. It’s utterly heartbreaking. He’s trying to hold on to hope that she will be found and brought home to them.
"The alternative is just too unimaginable and devastating.
"He’s trying to balance keeping some form of routine for the girls and then trying to find Nikki. They just desperately want her home."
Nicola's disappearance has gripped the nation as seven days on it appears there are no leads into finding out what happened.
The pal told the Mirror that they met Nicola through Paul and said she was "lovely" and "do anything for anyone".
They said: "I’m a school friend of Paul’s. Met her through him. We adored her straight away. She’s kind and would do anything for anyone. Everyone that meets her comments on how lovely she is.
"She adores her girls. She is a real homemaker and loves to spend time with her family. They love taking walks with the dogs.
"She is always cooking, making things with the girls. She takes them to school, and outside school activities. She is involved in church events with school.
"She adores animals. She is so sweet-natured."
They said she hadn't seen the family in a few months but said everything seemed great.
They added: "Her career was going well.
"She had taken time out to raise her daughters but recently re-skilled herself in the mortgage industry and got back into it.
"She adores her parents and sister. She is just so lovely. She would not leave her family. It makes no sense at all."
Yesterday, search efforts ramped up as divers were seen going into the river.
Lancashire Police also appealed for a second potential key witness to come forward, who was later identified but said she hadn't seen Nicola that morning.
Nicola was last seen shortly after dropping her daughters off at school and taking her dog for a walk.
The dog was later found wandering alone "bone dry" and agitated on the trail with her harness on the floor, while Nicola’s phone had been left on a bench overlooking the water, still logged into the call.
Minutes before the meeting, during which she had switched off her camera and microphone, it is understood she texted a friend about meeting up sometime this week with her kids.
The family friend said they grew up in the area and said the community is really "shaken" at Nicola's disappearance.
They also shared their fears that someone else must be involved.
They said: "It’s a very typical reaction for the community to come together like that.
"It’s really shaken everyone at how someone can just disappear with seemingly no trace.
"I believe that there has to be another person involved. She just would not leave her family or leave the dog free to get into any danger."
Two fellow dog walkers are said to have seen her soon before her disappearance and she was "laughing and joking" with them.
Friends and family have said Nicola's disappearance was totally out of character.
It comes after Nicola's mum Dot told the Mirror this week she had also been making plans for a spa break with her sister Louise.
Dad Ernest added Nicola was happy with her job and had a meeting with an important client before she went missing.
Nicola is described as white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent.
She 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.
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.
