Residents living in the area where Nicola Bulley disappeared have called for respect as people travel miles to "take selfies at Nicola Bulley bench".
Nicola, had just dropped off her two children at school and was walking her dog, Willow, by the River Wyre in Lancashire before she disappeared on Friday, January 27. Emergency services and members of the public are still searching for the mum-of-two.
Police officers said they are working on the theory that the 45-year-old , who has been described by friends as a strong swimmer, fell into the river, but that line of investigation has been questioned by friends and family. In a press conference on Tuesday, February 7, Superintendent Sally Riley said the force still believes this is the case.
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In the small village of of St Michael’s on Wyre, posters of Nicola's smiling face can be seen, reports LancsLive. The posters urge anyone to get in contact with information regarding the mum-of-two's, from Inskip, whereabouts.
The riverside path, where Nicola was last seen walking her Springer spaniel Willow, has a steady footfall as reporters and search teams dig for information which may help to find the missing mortgage advisor. But in recent days, the paths have seen visitors from as far afield as Lancaster and Manchester, who have travelled to the village to watch the search in action.
Locals have watched as people have posed for selfies on the bench where Nicola’s mobile phone was found. Others have been seen snapping pictures of themselves alongside missing person posters.
Chairman of St Michael’s Parish Council, Giles Phillips said the investigation was "not a spectator sport". He said, in recent days, the village has seen an increase in families visiting the riverside to watch the search operation.
He said: “It would be helpful if people could let the authorities do their jobs. We don’t want anyone to hinder the investigation. This is not a spectator sport.
"Most of the area is private land - the public access is very minimal and can’t absorb the numbers of people who are coming every day. They aren’t searching for somebody - they are watching someone else search for somebody. We would rather people stayed home or took a day trip to the Lake District.”
Speaking from St Michael’s Village Hall today, Supt Sally Riley, updated the public on the latest in the investigation. A team of 40 detectives are scouring thousands of pieces of information which have been submitted by members of the public to try and piece together what has happened to Nicola on the morning of January 27.
Officers from Lancashire Police have carried out house to house enquiries in the village and CCTV and dashcam footage has been searched for clues into the disappearance.
But so far, all lines of inquiry lead to the River Wyre. Lancashire Police said they have found no evidence of criminality in the disappearance of Nicola Bulley and do not expect to find any as their investigation continues.
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, knee length black quilted gilet with a hood.
She had a black Engelbert Strauss coat underneath which had long sleeves and came to her waist. She was wearing tight black jeans and had long green walking socks tucked into her jeans.
She was wearing size five ankle length green wellington boots from Next. Her hair was tied into a ponytail. She was wearing a pale blue Fitbit.
Anyone with information or footage is asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30.
For any immediate sightings, please call 999.
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