Police searching for missing dog walker Nicola Bulley have responded to claims of foul play as the search enters the 11th day.
A massive investigation is being carried out to trace the mum-of-two who was last seen near the River Wyre in Lancashire.
Nicola, 45, from Inskip, had been walking her dog by the river around 9.20am on Friday 27 January, after dropping off her two daughters at school in St Michaels on Wyre.
Shortly afterwards a member of the public recognised Nicola's springer spaniel Willow and found her phone on a nearby bench. She then raised the alarm and it is understood partner Paul Ansell was contacted and rushed to the scene before calling police.
Superintendent Sally Riley told a press conference that although they were keeping an open mind to new leads, it is their main belief Nicola fell into the water, the Mirror reports.
Six specialist officers are searching the river bank each day while 14 detectives are working under a senior investigations officer.
Supt Riley added that police are also currently ID'ing 700 vehicles which drove through the area at the time of Nicola's disappearance.
Lancashire Police this week brought in underwater forensic firm Specialist Group International (SGI) which launched a high tech sonar tracking system into the water.
Peter Faulding, SGI founder and CEO, has suggested Nicola is not in the river and a potential third party could have been involved.
Asked about Mr Faulding's comments, Supt Riley said: "I thank SGI for the help they've given to the team.
"Our search has not found Nicola in the river and any re-search done in parts by SGI found the same.
"That does not mean that Nicola has not been in the river. And in light of other enquiries being discounted from the investigation so far - although we are keeping an open mind to anything new - then clearly our main belief is that Nicola did fall into the river.
"Clearly Mr Faulding isn't included in all the investigation detail anymore than the members of the public are that I'm briefing through these sorts of press conferences.
"We would ask that we be allowed time to continue with those enquiries and release to the public only what is relevant."
Members of the public were urged to avoid "distressing" speculation about what may have happened to Nicola.
Supt Riley told the briefing: "We would ask that people in the wider community, particularly on social media and online, do not speculate as to what may have happened to Nicola.
"This is particularly hurtful to her family, to her children, to her partner Paul, to her parents, her sister and her friends because it is not helpful to them, it is distressing and it is distracting for the police inquiry.
"Nor is it helpful if people, particularly if they have come from outside of the area, take it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands by trying to, for example, break into empty property," Supt Riley continued.
"They may mean well, they may want to help. But they can help in thinking back if they were in the area to what information they may have of relevance to the police and holding the family in their thoughts.
"But we will not tolerate online abuse of anyone, including innocent witnesses, members of the family and friends, of local businesses, or of criminal damage or burglary. We will be taking a strong line on that, as you would expect."
Villagers have launched their own voluntary search parties as specialist officers trawl the river in small boats and comb through the grass off Garstang Road.
Investigators released doorbell images of Nicola that were taken during her school run on the morning of her disappearance.
She can be seen loading up the car before the roughly four mile journey from the family home in Inskip.
Dressed in her walking boots, and hooded raincoat, she is seen opening the boot as Willow gets in.
Last weekend a woman who was seen wearing a yellow coat and pushing a pram on the day Nicola went missing answered a police appeal for the potential witness.
Police admitted "blackspots" have affected their investigation as the development came after claims a broken CCTV camera could have hindered the search
Friends and family have cast doubt on a theory that Nicola may have fallen into the water while trying to retrieve her dog's ball.
They say Nicola would not have attempted to get a ball out of the water and Willow did not take tennis balls out on walks.
Police had previously said it was "very unlikely" that a third party was involved, but Nicola's family had always urged investigators to keep an "open mind".
Her parents Ernest and Dot had previously told the Mirror they feared "someone had got her" as Nicola's disappearance was totally out of character.
Paul said everyone is desperate to know what happened to her.
He added that Nicola's daughters "miss their mummy desperately" and have been going through "a tough time" since her disappearance.
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