People have expressed their "heartbreak" after a body was found in the river near where Nicola Bulley went missing.
The body, which has not yet been formally identified, was found on Sunday morning around a mile from where the 45-year-old mortgage adviser was last seen. Lancashire police confirmed that Nicola's family had been informed and said: "our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times."
The mum-of-two had been walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on January 27. Yesterday on Sunday, February 20, a body was found on a stretch of river and a police cordon was put in place.
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It is understood a man and a woman walking their dog discovered the body and called police. Police announced the news yesterday and people were quick to share their sympathies with Nicola's family.
Posting on the ECHO's Facebook page, Ellen Ruth Jones said: "Heart breaking for little girls thoughts on prayers with family and friends if it is Nicola, RIP beautiful lady." Louise Mcclory commented: "Absolutely heart breaking. Feel sorry for all her family RIP."
While a third Tracy Kelly said: "Can not imagine her partner, parents and children friends and family , I am so sorry for what has happened." Louise Leek added: "Heart breaking, whoever it is."
The body was found on an unremarkable stretch of the river, a mile or so outside the village, close to where a tree had fallen on its side half in and half outside the water, with branches and undergrowth partially submerged. A Lancashire police statement said: "An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body. No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
"Procedures to identify the body are ongoing. We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
"Nicola's family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."
Her partner Paul Ansell has said: "No words right now, just agony. We're all together, we have to be strong."
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