POLICE investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley believe the mother-of-two fell into the River Wyre while walking her dog.
Ms Bulley, 45, a mortgage adviser from Inskip, Lancashire, vanished while walking her dog after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school last Friday.
But Superintendent Sally Riley of Lancashire Police today said inquiries so far had left a 10-minute window in which they cannot account for Ms Bulley's movements last Friday.
Ms Riley said: "Our main working hypothesis is that Nicola has suddenly fallen into the river, that there's no third-party or criminal involvement, and that this is not suspicious but a tragic case of a missing person."
Officers have scoured the 15km region from the River Wyre to the sea in a search effort described as "unprecedented."
Read our Nicola Bulley blog below for the latest updates...
Nicola is 'one of the loveliest people you could meet', pal says
A pal of missing mother mother-of-two Nicola Bulley has said friends and family are "pushing on" as police continue their search.
Heather Gibbons told Sky News: "We are just pushing on... it's an absolute rollercoaster."
"Nikki is just one of the loveliest people you could meet," she said.
"She is just loved, she is really kind, she has one of the biggest hearts, incredible loyal, I just can't tell you how much of a lovely person she is."
How many children does Nicola Bulley have?
Nicola Bulley, 45, has two children with partner Paul Ansell.
Ms Bulley’s two young daughters “want to go out and find mummy”, her partner has reportedly told a friend.
One pal told the Mirror: “They want to go out and find mummy. It’s utterly heartbreaking.
“They just desperately want her home.”
The mother-of-two has been missing for seven days, as police continue their search.
Who to contact if you have information
If you have any information regarding Nicola Bulley, contact police on 101, quoting log 473 of January 27.
Nicola's family 'stuck in a nightmare'
The family of missing Mother-of-two Nicola Bulley have said they are "stuck in a nightmare" as police continue their week-long search.
Speaking to Sky News, her sister Louise Cunningham said: "If I'm being honest, it feels like I'm just stuck in a nightmare.
"We're going round and round in circles trying to piece together what could have possibly happened.
"It's like she's just vanished into thin air. We just want her home, we need her home, her children need her home. It's absolutely heartbreaking."
'No evidence whatsoever' of suspicious activity, police say
Lancashire police have said there is no evidence of suspicious activity involving the disappearance of Nicola Bulley.
Police said on Friday: "There is no evidence whatsoever that there is anything suspicious about her disappearance or any third-party involvement in her going missing.
"Our investigation remains open and we will of course act on any new information which comes to light."
What has the police said?
Lancashire Police today said their “main working hypothesis” is that Nicola had “sadly fallen in the river”.
Supt Sally Riley said “Based on all the work we have done so far, we are now as confident as we can be that Nicola has not left the field where she was last seen and our working hypothesis is that she has fallen into the river for some reason.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that there is anything suspicious about her disappearance or any third-party involvement in her going missing.
“Our investigation remains open and we will of course act on any new information which comes to light.”
Locals aid search for missing mother of two
Residents of Nicola Bulley's Lancashire community have banded together to aid in the search for the missing mother of two.
Paul Ansell, Nicola’s partner of over a decade, thanked the local community for their “amazing” support.
He said: “It’s the only thing that we can take (from the situation) is that the level of support is out of this world.
“It gives us a great amount of comfort knowing that that’s going on, we don’t have anything else.
“We’re never going to lose hope, but it is as though she has vanished into thin air. It’s just insane.”
What you need to know about the morning Nicola Bulley 'vanished'
Nicola, 45, began her walk along the towpath to the River Wyre at 8.43am after dropping her two children off at school.
Police say around seven minutes later, a dog walker who knows Nicola saw her walking around the lower field with her springer spaniel Willow.
The witness said their two dogs interacted briefly before she left Nicola via the river path.
At 8.53am, the mum sent an email to her boss at Exclusively Mortgages.
She then logged into a Teams call at 9.01am and was seen around nine minutes later on the upper field walking Willow.
Police say at 9.30am, the work call ended but Nicola stayed logged on.
At around 9.35am, the mobile and Willow were found at a bench by the river but there was no sign of Nicola.
When did Nicola Bulley go missing?
Nicola was last seen on January 27, 2023, in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, at 9.10am.
The 5ft 3in mother-of-two was last spotted walking along a river path with her dog.
At the time of her disappearance, Ms Bulley was wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood and had her hair tied in a ponytail.
Police confident Nicola Bulley 'had not left the field where she was last scene'
Police said on Friday: "Based on all the work we have done so far, we are now as confident as we can be that Nicola has not left the field where she was last seen and our working hypothesis is that she has fallen into the river for some reason.
"There is no evidence whatsoever that there is anything suspicious about her disappearance or any third-party involvement in her going missing.
"Our investigation remains open and we will of course act on any new information which comes to light."
Police are now searching a "number of locations" along the riverbank.
Who to contact if you have information
If you have any information regarding Nicola Bulley, contact police on 101, quoting log 473 of January 27.
Stretch of river where Nicola Bulley vanished is ‘notoriously dangerous’
The stretch of the river Wyre where Nicola Bulley may have vanished is 'notoriously dangerous', reports claim.
The St Michael’s Angling Association described the stretch of water as "very dangerous".
At its deepest - close to where Nicola vanished - the river reaches a depth of 15ft.
A representative for the organisation told The Times: "The combination of the depth and how cold it is at this time of year makes it very dangerous.
"I certainly would not want to fall in there and I’m a very strong swimmer.”
One local also described the banks of the river as "very slippery".
How old is Nicola Bulley?
Nicola Bulley is a 45-year-old who works as a mortgage adviser.
She lives with her partner and children in Inskip, Lancashire.
Ms Bulley was reported missing on January 27, 2023.
'Issue' with dog could have led to Nicola to 'fall into the river'
Police suggested today Nicola may have fallen into a river after an "issue" with her dog.
Superintendent Sally Riley, of Lancashire Police, said: "It is possible that there may have been an issue with the dog that led her to the water's edge.
"We assume the dog didn't enter the river but we don't know why Nicola may have if she did."
The heartbreaking message Nicola sent before she 'vanished'
Nicola Bulley had reportedly sent a text message to a pal just minutes before she disappeared.
A friend, who did not wish to be named, told the Mirror: "She booked a playdate, 8.57, she sent a text message to a friend whose mortgage she had just recently signed off on to arrange for the girls to go for tea this week."
It means Nicola sent the text message before logging on a work conference call at 9.01am.
The friend believes she had no intention of disappearing on purpose due to the nature of the text message.
They added: "You wouldn't have done that if you were going to get up and go missing."
Nicola's partner thanks Brits for their 'amazing support'
Paul Ansell, Nicola's partner of over a decade, thanked the local community for their "amazing" support.
He said: "It’s the only thing that we can take (from the situation) is that the level of support is out of this world.
“It gives us a great amount of comfort knowing that that’s going on, we don’t have anything else.
"We’re never going to lose hope, but it is as though she has vanished into thin air. It’s just insane.”
What has Nicola's boyfriend said?
Nicola Bulley's partner of 12 years, Paul Ansell, is remaining defiant as the search continues.
Speaking to reporters, he said: "My whole focus is my two girls, just staying as strong as I can for them.
"I'm scared that if I put focus into anything else it's going to take my focus off that.
"Just hoping to goodness that anything comes out from the interview yesterday no matter how tiny."
Paul said he keeps playing "every scenario" in his head "around and around" but each one comes to a "brick wall".
He added: "It is as though she has vanished into thin air."
The dad said he would "never lose the hope" of finding missing Nicola.
Paul added: "I can't believe that we're here a week on and as yet, it seems like we're not further on.
"It just seems absolutely impossible, like a dream.
"I just can't get my head around it."
Nicola Bulley's ‘want to help find mummy’ as search reaches 7th day
Nicola Bulley's two young daughters "want to go out and find mummy", her partner has reportedly told a friend.
One pal told the Mirror: "They want to go out and find mummy. It’s utterly heartbreaking.
"They just desperately want her home."
What has the police said?
Lancashire Police today said their "main working hypothesis" is that Nicola had "sadly fallen in the river".
Supt Sally Riley said “Based on all the work we have done so far, we are now as confident as we can be that Nicola has not left the field where she was last seen and our working hypothesis is that she has fallen into the river for some reason.
"There is no evidence whatsoever that there is anything suspicious about her disappearance or any third-party involvement in her going missing.
"Our investigation remains open and we will of course act on any new information which comes to light."
Who to contact if you have information
If you have any information regarding Nicola Bulley, contact police on 101, quoting log 473 of January 27.
Who is Nicola Bulley's boyfriend?
Ms Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell, is an engineer by trade.
The pair have been together for 12 years.
He has openly spoken about the hell the family are going through.
Her daughters broke down when he had to tell them "mummy's lost".
Ansell told reporters: "My whole focus is my two girls, just staying as strong as I can for them.
"I'm scared that if I put focus into anything else it's going to take my focus off that.
"Just hoping to goodness that anything comes out from the interview yesterday no matter how tiny."
Ansell has described how the family are going through a "perpetual hell" as they try to locate Ms Bulley.
An extensive search continues, with many local residents helping out in trying to find more information.
Ms Bulley's parents and sister have spoken about how her children "need her home".
When did Nicola Bulley go missing?
Nicola was last seen on January 27, 2023, in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, at 9.10am.
The 5ft 3in mother-of-two was last spotted walking along a river path with her dog.
At the time of her disappearance, Ms Bulley was wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood and had her hair tied in a ponytail.
Who is Nicola Bulley?
Nicola Bulley is a 45-year-old who works as a mortgage adviser.
She lives with her partner and children in Inskip, Lancashire.
Ms Bulley was reported missing on January 27, 2023.
Her parents Ernest and Dot Bulley have pleaded for anyone with information on their daughter's disappearance to come forward.
Her sister Louise Cunningham has spoken to Sky News about the pain and suffering the family is enduring.
