The partner of missing mother Nicola Bulley has suggested that two key clues in the case could be "could be a decoy".
Police investigating Nicola's disappearance have so far had very little to go on. Among the few clues available to them have been the discovery of her dog's harness near the bank of the river close to her Lancashire home, and her mobile phone that was found on a bench close by.
However, her partner Paul Ansell has warned that these two potential clues "could be a decoy". And he has called for the search to be ramped up to include "every house, every garage, every outbuilding" in the surrounding area.
Appearing on Channel 5 documentary 'Vanished: Where is Nicola Bulley', he told host Dan Walker on: "People don't just vanish into thin air. Something has happened. Find out what it is."
"My plea now is, personally I want every house, every garage, every outbuilding, the land, scrutinised. I want it all searched. Every piece of it. You're not going to appease me with anything else."
He also said: "We always felt that the mobile phone and the harness and everything, it could, it could possibly be a decoy.’
He did not give any further details about this theory - but stressed "we don't have evidence".
Police have discounted foul play and are treating the incident as a missing person inquiry, believing that Nicola has fallen into the water. Paul, however, has rejected this. He told Dan Walker: “Personally, I am 100% convinced it’s not the river, that’s my opinion," he said.
However, Paul said he "cannot fault the police in any of this". He said: "They have been incredible."
"The relationship we have working on this is still very strong. It is very good, This isn't any criticism of them at all."
Speaking about his partner, Mr Ansell went on: “She is fun. She is loving. If you’re friends with her, she’s the most loyal friend that you could ever have.
“With Nikki, what you see is what you get. There’s no hidden, nothing’s hidden.
“You know, it’s all. That’s, that’s her. And she is an exceptional mum and she absolutely adores our girls. And goes above and beyond.”
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
He added: “She’s just a pillar of strength to our family and without her, the hole is bigger than you can possibly imagine.”
"It's an inpossible situation for eveyone involved," said Paul. When asked about the emotions he and the family were hoing through, Paul said: "Anger and utter frustration, confusion, disbelief, surrealism, nothing feels real. I feel like I'm In the Truman show. I honestly believe I'm going to wake up at any moment."
"Speaking to Louise, Nicky's Sister, we say the same thing every day - how are we even in this. We're good people."
"It's the kind of thing you see on the telly, in dramas." He said he tells their children that "everbody is looking for mummy, The best people in the world are lookign for mummy. Just to give them that level of hope that everything that can be done to find mummy is being done".
