A timeline of the last known movements of the missing Lancashire woman Nicola Bulley has been released by police as her family made an appeal for information.
Speaking to Sky News, her sister Louise Cunningham said: “Something has got to have been missed. Somebody must know something. People don’t just vanish into thin air.”
Bulley’s father, Ernie Bulley, said her two children believed it was “only a matter of time” until she came home. “There are two young children there waiting for their mummy to come back and we want her back obviously also, but if Nicola is out there, if she’s watching this, then all we’d like to say is come home, contact the police, contact ourselves and we just want you back,” he told Sky News.
“And they know that Mummy’s missing but they know that she’s going to be coming home and everyone is looking for her so it’s only a matter of time, that they’re thinking in their minds, that she’s going to walk through that door.”
Bulley was last seen walking her springer spaniel, Willow, along the River Wyre last Friday morning. Her phone, dog leash and harness were left on a bench and she was logged on to a work call when she vanished.
On Thursday police traced a new witness spotted on CCTV walking a dog around the time of Bulley’s disappearance.
A “large and extremely thorough” search involving underwater drones, police dogs and divers was ongoing to find Bulley, 45, Lancashire constabulary said. The search involves a significant area of land around the river off Garstang Road, as well as the full length of the River Wyre downstream from where she was last seen.
Detectives say there is still nothing to suggest “any third party involvement” in her disappearance.
Police timeline from morning of disappearance
8.43am – Bulley walked along a path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school.
8:50am (approximately) – A dog walker – somebody who knows Nicola – saw her walking around the lower field with her dog. Their two dogs interacted briefly before the witness left the field via the river path.
8.53am – Bulley sent an email to her boss.
9.01am – She logged into a Teams call.
9.10am (approximately) – A witness – somebody who knows Bulley – saw her on the upper field walking her dog, Willow.
9.30am – The Teams call ended but Nicola stayed logged on.
9.35am (approximately) – Nicola’s mobile phone and Willow were found at a bench by the river by another dog walker.
Supt Sally Riley said: “We know that Nicola going missing has caused a great deal of concern for the wider local community, as well as obviously being an awful time for her family. This remains a missing person inquiry and at this time there is nothing to suggest any third-party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance.
“I appreciate that there are unanswered questions about what has happened to Nicola, but I would urge people not to speculate or spread false rumours. We will share updates when we can, but we must be factual.”
Nicola is white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown, shoulder-length hair. She has 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.
