Nicola Bulley missing: Daughters of woman who vanished while walking her dog ‘want their mummy home’

Nicola Bulley disappeared after last being seen walking her dog by a river in a Lancashire village, with officers “extremely concerned” for her welfare.
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The two daughters of a woman who went missing while walking her dog near a Lancashire village have said they ‘just want their mummy home’. Nicola Bulley, from Inskip, has been missing since Friday (January 27), sparking a huge police search.

The 45-year-old is described as white, 5ft 3 inches tall and with light brown shoulder-length hair. The last sighting of her was on the footpath by the river off Garstang Road at St Michael’s on Wyre, about a 10 minute drive away from her home, where she was walking a brown spaniel at around 9.15am.

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The dog has since was found nearby before Lancashire Police revealed they had also found Ms Bulley’s close to where she went missing, which was connected to a work conference call. Speaking to reporters at the scene this this week, superintendent Sally Riley said the phone was discovered on a bench near the riverbank, while the dog was found loose between the river and the bench.

Ms Bulley speaks with an Essex accent and was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with hood, black jeans and olive green ankle wellies with her hair tied in a ponytail. It is thought she had done a school drop-off on Friday morning before setting off on a regular dog walk.

Friend Emma White said: “We plea if anybody knows anything, share it with police. Two little girls want their mummy home. Please help.”

Officers have deployed drones, search dogs and other resources in the search. They are being assisted by the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team and the north west underwater search team along with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

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Chf 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 he might be, please get in touch with us straight away.

“Inquiries 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.”

Police said Ms Bulley has links to St Michael’s, where she was last seen, as well as Thornton-Cleveleys in the Blackpool area. Chf Insp Barton said that officers were following several lines of inquiry and “keeping an open mind at this stage about what has occurred”.

Officers said the search would continue into this week, adding that a “large number of people from the local community” who had “organised a search of the area” had prompted them to issue a safety warning. A spokesperson said: “We would urge them to stay safe. The river and its banks are extremely dangerous and these areas present a genuine risk to the public.”

Nicola Bulley, 45, went ,missing while out walking her dog on Friday morning.Nicola Bulley, 45, went ,missing while out walking her dog on Friday morning.
Nicola Bulley, 45, went ,missing while out walking her dog on Friday morning.
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“We appreciate there is a great deal of concern in the local area and that people want to help,” said Chf Insp Barton. “However, we would ask that nobody puts themselves in any danger.

“If anybody has questions or concerns they are welcome to speak to officers in the area.” Anybody who has seen Ms Bulley or has information about where she might be is asked to call Lancashire Police on 101, quoting log 473 of January 27 - for direct sightings, dial 999.