Police in Lancashire are investigating an 'offensive' and 'abusive' voicemail which reportedly referenced missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley. The message in question is believed to be one of several 'mystery phone calls' made to five of the six members of Inskip with Sowerby Parish Council.
The Mirror reports all but one of the calls, made over a period of two hours of Saturday (February 11), rang off as they were answered.
According to reports, a source close to the council said the calls were made between 12.45am and 3am. They also said police were looking into a voicemail which was received by one of the councillors at the time.
Read more: Witness reportedly saw ‘suspicious men' near dog walking route
The details of what's believed to have been said in the voicemail are unclear - but the source said Ms Bulley was referenced in it. Describing the message, the source said: "Offensive, I wouldn’t say it was abusive, I would say it was offensive."
"I believe the police have identified the offender," they added, describing them as "just some nutter". Asked if the councillor who received the call was left shaken, they said: "No, we're not soft."
The councillors' phone numbers have subsequently been pulled from the council's website. Contact details for parish and town council members are also no longer listed on Wyre Borough Council's website following the incident, it confirmed.
The 45-year-old mother-of-two has not been seen since January 27 when she took her dog Willow for a walk in St Michaels on Wyre, just a couple of miles away from her home in Inskip. She'd dropped off her daughters - aged six and nine - at school shortly before she vanished.
Garry Payne, Chief Executive of Wyre Council, said: "Everyone is deeply saddened by the ongoing Nicola Bulley case and our thoughts are with the family and friends. We are supporting Lancashire Police where required and we urge everyone to remain respectful at this time."
Cllr Michael Vincent, Leader of Wyre Council said: "We appreciate the emotional gravity of the situation. However, we will not tolerate any form of abuse of any of our Elected Members of Wyre Borough Council or any of the town and parish councils within our borders or our staff.
"The community has shown great strength and resilience during the investigation and we urge everyone to continue to show compassion and empathy. It is a shame that we have had to take this step at such a difficult time and appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that residents are still able to contact their elected representatives."
Wyre Council has said it will log any reports of abuse and forward them to police. Asked about the matter, a Lancashire Police spokesman said: "We are aware and it is being looked into."
The search for the missing woman continues along the River Wyre down to Morecambe Bay. Meanwhile, police have extended the search to a caravan site near where Ms Bulley went missing. The site is thought to be one of several CCTV 'blind spots' identified in the search investigation. Friends and family have also left ribbons and handwritten messages on a bridge close to where she disappeared.
Read next:
Nicola Bulley police search caravan site near bench where her phone was found
Nicola Bulley: Police extend investigation to include day before she vanished
Nicola Bulley latest: Witness reportedly saw ‘suspicious men' near dog walking route
Nicola Bulley's partner Paul Ansell describes desperate moment he realised she was missing
Nicola Bulley: Former detective says '3 options still on the table' over disappearance
