Earlier today (Thursday, February 2nd) we released a CCTV image of somebody we wanted to identify as part of our search for missing Nicola Bulley.
We have now identified the woman and would like to thank everybody who shared our appeal and phoned in with information.
Our search is continuing today for Nicola (pictured below), 45, who went missing in St Michael’s on Wyre last Friday (January 27th).
An investigation was launched into the circumstances of her disappearance while a large and extremely thorough search has been carried out in the area. These are both continuing and at this point there is nothing to suggest any third party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance.
We can now confirm the following timings from the morning Nicola was last seen:
8.43am – Nicola walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school
8:50am (approximately) - A dog-walker – somebody who knows Nicola – saw her walking around the lower field with her dog. Their two dogs interacted briefly before the witness left the field via the river path
8.53am – She sent an email to her boss
9.01am – She logged into a Teams call
9.10am (approximately) – A witness – somebody who knows Nicola – saw her on the upper field walking her dog, Willow. Work is ongoing today to establish exactly what time this was.
9.30am – The Teams call ended but Nicola stayed logged on
9.35am (approximately) – Nicola’s mobile phone and Willow were found at a bench by the river by another dog-walker.
We continue to have specialist resources from both the police and other emergency services in the area searching a significant area of land around the river off Garstang Road. We also have divers in the area and are using underwater drones to search the full length of the River Wyre downstream. Our police dogs have also been out searching.
We are really grateful to everyone who has come forward with information so far and would continue to ask people to get in touch if they have information or concerns.
Nicola is white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent. She was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive-green ankle wellies. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.
Anybody who has seen Nicola, or has information about where she might be, is asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30th. For immediate sightings please call 999.