A body found in the search for Nicola Bulley was discovered about a mile away from where the missing mum was last seen over three weeks ago. The 45-year-old disappeared while walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre, on January 27.
Formal identification of the body is yet to be carried out, however the mum-of-two's family have been informed. It is understood that the body was found by two dog walkers, who immediately contacted police.
The discovery was made about a mile downstream of St Michael's on Wyre - just south of a local caravan site and fish farm. Lancashire Police quickly cordoned off all surrounding roads and expert divers were called to the scene.
A forensic tent was also set up, while a police drone and helicopter circled overhead.
Speaking to the Mirror, a photographer who attended the scene on Sunday afternoon said: "It all happened so fast. Police have sealed all the roads off. It's fair to say a massive search is underway."
Authorities confirmed that they first received a call about the body's discovery at roughly 11.35am on Sunday.
In a statement, Lancashire Police 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."
According to Sky News, Ms Bulley's family have been left "incredibly heartboken" following the discovery. Reporter Inzamam Rashid contacted Ms Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell, on Sunday evening.
He replied with the text: "No words right now, just agony."
At the time of her disappearance, Ms Bulley was logged into a Microsoft Teams meeting on her phone, which recovered from a nearby bench still in the meeting. Police and specialist divers have been looking for Ms Bulley ever since, in a large-scale search operation.
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