A missing mum of two who vanished on a dog walk “would have never left her children voluntarily”, according to family friends.
Nicola Bulley, 45, has been missing from her home since Friday morning when she was last seen walking her dog.
She left her home in Inskip, Lancs, to drop her young daughters at school.
Nicola left her car parked up in St Michael’s village before walking on a footpath along the River Wyre at around 9.15am.
Police were “open minded” as they entered a fifth day of a search yesterday, but do not believe she has been attacked.
A neighbour insisted doting mum Nicola would never choose to leave her daughters and partner Paul Ansell, 44.
She said: “The family is extremely close-knit, very loving and will be in absolute pieces. It’s a mystery, they just have no idea where she is.
“We went out on the search on Sunday, she has taken the dog there loads of times but the riverbanks can be very slippy.
“She would have never ever left those children voluntarily.”
Lancashire Police yesterday located a man in his 70s who was walking a white dog in the area at the same time.
Just over an hour after Nicola’s last confirmed sighting, a member of the public alerted police after finding Nicola’s dog Willow running by the river.
Police found the mortgage adviser’s phone on a bench still linked to a work conference call.
Residents have turned out in force to help rescue teams.
Divers searched a section of the river yesterday after sniffer dogs, drones and a helicopter did not turn up new evidence.
A graveyard, farmland and an abandoned house have also all been scoured.
Kev Camplin, of Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue, said: “Leaving the phone and disappearing is quite odd.”
Partner Paul, who works as an engineer, described the situation as “perpetual hell”.
Her family said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support.
“The girls are desperate to have their mummy home safe and your ongoing efforts have provided comfort to them.”
