UK police find body near where woman went missing in late January

General view of the location on the River Wyre where a body was discovered during a search for Nicola Bulley, who is currently missing, in Lancashire, Britain, February 19, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Police in the north of England said on Sunday they had found a body near where a woman went missing last month.

Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen walking her dog near a river in Lancashire, northwest England, on Jan. 27.

Twenty-five minutes later her mobile phone, still connected to a work Teams call, was found on a bench. Her springer spaniel was found waiting nearby.

Ribbons are seen on a bench where the phone of missing woman Nicola Bulley was found, in Lancashire, Britain, February 19, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Lancashire Police said they were called at 1136 GMT on Sunday to reports of a body in the River Wyre.

"An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body," the police said in a statement on Twitter.

"No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time."

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Specialist Group International continue to search River Wyre for Nicola Bulley who is currently missing in Lancashire, Britain February 6, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble

(Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Ribbons and flowers are seen on a bench where the phone of missing woman Nicola Bulley was found, in Lancashire, Britain, February 19, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble