Nicola Bulley’s partner has spoken of his “agony” after divers found a body in the search for the missing mother-of-two.
The body was found around a mile from where Ms Bulley was last seen walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters at school on 27 January.
Lancashire Police said a formal identification is yet to be carried out but the 45-year-old mortgage adviser’s family have been informed.
Her partner Paul Ansell told Sky News on Sunday night: “No words right now, just agony.”
He added: “We’re all together, we have to be strong.”
A man and a woman walking their dog are understood to have discovered the body and called police on Sunday.
The body was found on an unremarkable stretch of the river, just past a slight bend, a mile or so outside the village, close to where a tree had fallen on its side half in the water.
Police had earlier erected a tent and cordoned off the lane while police divers were called in, but the road reopened around three hours later once the body was recovered.
The police diving team could be seen conducting the search while a police drone and helicopter flew above.
A police spokesman said officers were called to reports of a body in the river close to Rawcliffe Road at around 11.35am on Sunday.
“An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body,” a statement said.
“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 ongoing. 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.”
Ms Bulley’s family spoke out after Lancashire Police shared how the missing mother had “issues” with alcohol brought on by the menopause.
They said it was “appalling” that police were sharing details like this of Ms Bulley’s private life.
Her family said in a statement: “As a family, we were aware beforehand that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details about our Nikki.
“Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop.”
And in a statement released on Thursday, the family said:“It has now been three weeks since Nikki went missing.
“We, as a family, believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her and Paul’s private life.
“The police know the truth about Nikki and now the public need to focus on finding her.
“Due to the peri menopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis.
“The public focus has to be on finding her and not making up wild theories about her personal life.
“Despite what some media outlets and individuals are suggesting, we are being updated daily and receive support from our family liaison officers.
“Nikki is such a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and mother and is missed dearly – we all need you back in our lives.
“Nikki, we hope you are reading this and know that we love you so much and your girls want a cuddle. We all need you home. You can reach out to us, or you can contact MissingPeople.org.uk. Don’t be scared, we all love you so very much.”
Soon after Ms Bulley went missing, Mr Ansell said: Paul Ansell said: “We’re never going to lose hope, but right now it’s as though she vanished into thin air, it’s just insane.
“I can’t believe we’re a week on and of yet it seems we’re no further on, it seems absolutely impossible. It’s like a dream, I can’t get my head around it.”
