A friend of Nicola Bulley has spoken out about a house referred to as "abandoned" amid the extensive search for her missing friend.
Heather Gibbons took to Facebook after rescuers directed some of their efforts to what was said to be an "abandoned house" right opposite the bench where her phone was found on the other side of the River Wyre. She also said the home has already been thoroughly searched.
Heather said she is a friend of Nicola's, and has "been involved every single day in this search".
READ MORE: Seven things about Nicola Bulley disappearance that expert Peter Faulding says don't add up
She said: "I want absolutely nothing more than to get her back home to her family. I can't actually express in words how desperately I want to know she is safe and to get her home to her girls and Paul.
"Since day one when speaking with the press/media I have shared how incredibly thankful we are as friends and family for people who have turned out to help us in our search for Nikki, its meant the absolute world and it continues to do so.
"But this abandoned house, here are some facts that need to be known."
Heather went on to say it is not abandoned at all, and is actually owned by a "lovely family who have lived in this village for generations and would do anything they can to help in the search for Nikki." She said it has been searched "inside and out", before adding that the family has been fully compliant with police officers.
She added: "Police units are out in St Michaels dealing with people trespassing, not only on this family's land but also others. We are at the point where people coming to 'help' look for Nikki in this way is actually doing the complete opposite.
"You're taking police time and resources away from the investigation. You're letting speculation take away from the actual facts. We are at the point where this type of 'help' is making people who live in St Michaels feel unsafe. Please don't let this continue to happen".
Nicola, 45, disappeared while on a dog walk on Friday, January 27, morning and a large scale police search launched. It has since been confirmed that her mobile phone was found on a bench along a river path, which was still logged into a work conference call.
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