Nicola Bulley's parents have revisited a bridge near the site where she disappeared from - telling their 45-year-old daughter: "We pray everyday for you."
The mother of two was categorised as a high-risk and vulnerable missing person after her disappearance, January 27 in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire - with police divulging 'specific vulnerabilities' with relation to alcohol in an unprecedented revelation at a press conference yesterday.
The announcement came after the force face increasing scrutiny through their handling of the case, but have since faced severe backlash from the general public for detailing Nicola's private life and affairs.
Read more: Police identify body pulled from River Wyre as missing mum Nicola Bulley
The Mirror reports that today, two new messages had been penned on yellow ribbons of hope, attached to a bridge near the footpath where Nicola was last seen. They were left by Nicola's parents, Ernie, 73, and Dot, 72 and her younger sister, Louise Cunningham.
The message from her parents read: "We pray every day for you. Love you, mum and dad xxx," while the other from her sister, said: "Nikki, please come home. I love you, Lou xxx."
The 'bridge of hope' set up by friends and family over the weekend has been inundated with notes from local people and school kids. Louise also shared a drawing of a woman covered in yellow hearts on her Facebook.
The caption read: "Nikki you are outrageously loved."
It comes as police came under scrutiny yesterday for sharing the mum-of-two was categorised as 'high risk' due to 'a number of specific vulnerabilities'. At the time, they did not elaborate and sparked further speculation despite trying to use the press conference to squash any unhelpful theories.
But hours later, police put on Facebook that Nicola: "in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause".
They added that these issues had 'resurfaced in recent months'. This has sparked outrage from MPs and confusion from former police officers.
Martyn Underhill told Sky News this morning that he had never 'seen such a level of detail' released in a missing persons case, while also questioning why police were releasing it now. Speaking to Kay Burley, Mr Underhill said: "You can understand why some people are saying it's victim blaming to protect their own reputation.
"I can't see how it progresses the case any further forward now we're three weeks in, to be frank."
The statement sparked fury from MPs. Labour's Stella Creasy, said: "The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person's private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling. The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation."
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns said she was 'deeply uncomfortable' with the police releasing details about Ms Bulley's 'so called 'vulnerabilities' on menopause and alcohol'.
"I struggle to ascertain how this will assist Police in their search & investigations," she wrote, adding: "I do see how it would assist those wishing to victim-blame or diminish."
Read next:
- Nicola Bulley's final three conversations before missing mum vanished shared by police
- Nicola Bulley latest as police say there is still 'no evidence' of third-party involvement
- Nicola Bulley's sister makes urgent plea as widespread search for missing mum continues
- Nicola Bulley: Former DCI says seven key questions must be answered
Reports Nicola Bulley police have been given 'stained' glove found yards from where she vanished
