A bench near where missing mum Nicola Bulley was last seen has now been cordoned off by police.
Nicola, a missing mum-of-two was last seen on Friday, January 27, while walking her dog on the footpath by the river off Garstang Road in St Michael's on Wyre. The 45-year-old's pet dog, Willow, was found nearby and a rescue search team was launched by Lancashire Police as investigators keep an open mind over the disappearance.
Police are now focusing their efforts on a stretch of river just feet away from the bench where Nicola's phone was found. At around 10.40am on Thursday February 1, a specialist underwater unit arrived bearing oxygen tanks and long yellow cables dressed in black. The police divers are extensively searching the section of water which is said to be 18 feet deep, Birmingham Live reports.
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Nicola is described as white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent. She was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive-green ankle wellies. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.
Nicola's friend Emma White, one of many locals helping rescue teams in their search efforts, described her as "the most beautiful person" who is a "great friend". She said: "She's a great friend but she's also a daughter, a sister, a mummy and a partner to Paul [Ansell, 44]. She's the most beautiful person on the outside but even more so, on the inside.
"She is the most perfect human being as she's kind, caring, loyal and just the greatest friend." Anybody who has seen Nicola, or has information about where she might be, is asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30th. For immediate sightings please call 999.
Earlier today it was revealed that Nicola had not long booked a spa break with her younger sister, Louise. Her mum, Dot, 72, told the Mirror: "Louise had just booked Ribby Hall because they both had spa vouchers, she had just sent Nicola the night before the treatments. Louise booked it on Friday morning and sent it to Nicola but she never got back to her. They are very close."
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