A major search is under way to find a 45-year-old woman from Inskip, Lancashire, who vanished while walking her dog.
Nicola Bulley was last seen three days ago – on Friday 27 January – at around 9.15am on a towpath by the River Wyre off Garstang Road in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre.
Police say her mobile phone was found on a bench near the riverbank and they are “extremely concerned” about her, and have urged anyone with information to get in touch.
Emergency crews including Lancashire Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue team and the North West Underwater Search Team have joined the search.
Police dive teams, fire service drones, search dogs, helicopters and mountain rescue volunteers have been sent to the area.
Lancashire Police earlier said Ms Bulley’s dog – a brown Spaniel – was also found close to where she was last seen and hope this might help jog the memory of anyone who saw her and may have information relating to her whereabouts.
She is described as white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair and she speaks with an Essex accent.
Ms Bulley 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.
As well as Inskip and St Michael’s on Wyre, she also has links to Thornton Cleveleys.
In an update on Monday, Superintendent Sally Riley appealed for motorists who may have been driving through the area where Ms Bulley was last seen to come forward with any dash cam footage that could help officers.
The force said it is keeping an open mind about where she may be, and detectives investigating the circumstances around her disappearance are following a number of lines of enquiry.
A major search is under way to find the missing 45-year-old
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Chief Inspector Chris Barton said on Sunday: “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.”
He added officers are aware a large number of people from the local community have organised a search of the area, and urged them to stay safe.
The River Wyre and its banks are extremely dangerous and searching these areas presents a genuine risk to the public, the force said.
