A missing dog walker was on a work call when she vanished, it can be revealed.
Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen while walking along a footpath to a river at around 9.15am on Friday. Officers in Lancashire said that her phone was discovered on a bench with a work Teams call still on the screen, reports the Mirror.
Willow, her brown cocker spaniel, was found loose from its lead and harness an hour later by a member of the public. At 10.30am, a member of the public recognised Willow and raised the alarm with police.
Superintendent Sally Riley said officers had found Nicola’s phone still ‘active’ on the bench. They then began searching for her immediately.
Supt Riley said: “It was on a meeting call, and that was still live it was connected to the conference call and that hadn’t been terminated.”
The Mirror asked if forensic teams had been searching the area alongside drones, sniffer dogs and police helicopters. However, Supt Riley said there was no evidence of any criminal activity or that Nicola has been attacked.
She added: “There are no reports of anything like that but clearly all scenarios are tested and checked for but in the absence of anything to suggest there was anything criminal was there anything to suggest she was attacked, absolutely not.”
Specialist search officers were seen on a small boat trawling on the river today. Police say the search will continue for Nicole, who was last seen near Garstang Road in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
She is described as white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent.
When last seen, Nicola was wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive green ankle wellies. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.
Superintendent Sally Riley from Lancashire Police told reporters: “The police are keeping a really open mind about what could have happened but we do believe that the likelihood is that Nicola has gone missing and this is not a crime inquiry, but we are keeping an open mind.”
Urging the public to help if they can, she said: “We appeal for anyone who may have been driving through the village of St Michael’s last Friday morning at about 9.15am or who may have dashcam footage that could be of use to us, or people who may have been dog-walking in the area or on the tow path to come forward.
“They can ring 101 or, if they have a sighting of Nicola, 999.”
Yesterday, Ch 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 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.
“We are following a number of lines of enquiry and are keeping an open mind at this stage about what has occurred.
“We appreciate there is a great deal of concern in the local area and that people want to help, however we would ask that nobody puts themselves in any danger.
“If anybody has any questions or concerns they are welcome to speak to officers in the area.”
Anybody who has seen Nicola, or has information about where she might be, is asked to call 101, quoting log 473 of January 27. For immediate sightings please call 999.
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