A huge search has been launched for a woman who vanished while walking her dog along a footpath close to a river.
Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen on Friday at around 9.15am near Garstang Road in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
She had been walking her dog, a brown Spaniel, at the time which has since been found close to the scene.
Lancashire Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue team and the North West Underwater Search Team have helped look for missing Nicola so far.
She was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive green ankle wellies with her hair tied into a ponytail.
Ch Insp Chris Barton, of Lancashire Police, said: “Nicola has now been missing for two days and we are extremely concerned about her.
“Firstly, if anybody saw her on Friday morning and has not yet been spoken to by police, or if anybody has any other information about where she might be, please get in touch with us straight away.
“Enquiries are very much ongoing and we have a team of detectives working tirelessly to establish the circumstances around her disappearance, in addition to a large team of police officers, partner agency and volunteer groups on the ground searching the area around where she was last seen.
“We are following a number of lines of enquiry and are keeping an open mind at this stage about what has occurred.
“We appreciate there is a great deal of concern in the local area and that people want to help, however we would ask that nobody puts themselves in any danger.
“If anybody has any questions or concerns they are welcome to speak to officers in the area.”
Members of the public have also held their own search for Nicola, who has links to Thornton Cleveleys, Inskip and St Michael’s.
A spokesman for the force added: “We have also become aware that a large number of people from the local community have organised a search of the area and we would urge them to stay safe.
“The river and its banks are extremely dangerous and searching these areas presents a genuine risk to the public.
“Anybody who has seen Nicola, or has information about where she might be, is asked to call 101, quoting log 473 of January 27th. For immediate sightings please call 999.”
