Police have released a full list of what Nicola Bulley was wearing at the time she went missing in the hope that members of the public may spot something belonging to the 45-year-old mum. Mum of two Nicola went missing last Friday and police are continuing to search for her more than a week later.
Yesterday they said they believe she may have fallen into the river, perhaps while trying to retrieve her dogs ball. Her dog was found at the scene and her phone was on a nearby bench, still connected to a work call.
Her famly says they do not believe she went into the river and have urged people to keep looking for her.
Nicola disappeared last Friday morning close to St Michael's in Lancashire as she walked her dog Willow.
Police fear Nicola Bulley may have fallen into the river while trying to retrieve her dog's ball (Image: Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)
Items of clothing she was wearing include an ankle-length black quilted gilet jacket, a black Engelbert Strauss waist-length coat, tight-fitting black jeans, long green walking socks, ankle-length green Next wellies, a necklace and a pale blue Fitbit, reports The Mirror.
Nicola had dropped her two young daughters at school in St Michaels on Wyre last Friday morning before taking Willow, a springer spaniel, out onto a nearby towpath.
Supt Sally Riley, who is heading the search, said: "Our main working hypothesis is that Nicola has suddenly fallen into the river, that there's no third party or criminal involvement, and that this is not suspicious but a tragic case of a missing person.
"This is particularly important because speculation otherwise can be really distressing for the family and for Nicola's children."
Mortgage advisor Nicola's phone was discovered on a bench overlooking the river, with police believing it was placed there at around 9.20am.
Nicola's phone was discovered on a bench overlooking the river (Image: PA)
Supt Riley continued: "I don't wish to speculate, in that we don't know, but it is possible as the dog was loose and off the lead.
"There may have been an issue with the dog that led her to the water's edge, she puts her phone down to go and deal with the dog momentarily, and Nicola may have fallen in.
"We assume the dog didn't get into the river, but we don't know why Nicola may have if she did."
She told the MailOnline after the press conference: "I'm not aware of a dog ball being retrieved but it's possible that a ball could have rolled down the steep bank close to the edge of the water and Ms Bulley was bending down to pick it up.
"What she was wearing could also be a factor."
She said Nicola was wearing a quilted, ankle-length gilet, and underneath that another coat, as well as further clothing.
The officer also said Nicola had on ankle length wellington boots.
Nicola's family are desperate for answers (Image: Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)
"One would assume they fill with water when someone enters a river so all of that clothing is heavy, particularly on someone who is of slight build and only 5 foot three," she added.
She confirmed the mum can swim, and said due to the different water depths searchers have been both wading in the River Wyre and diving underwater.
She said an "issue" with Ms Bulley's dog may have caused her to place her phone on the bench and go to assist Willow.
And after tracing local CCTV, dashcam and doorbell camera footage, police are confident Nicola did not leave the area near the river.
Yesterday her partner Paul Ansell, 44, said he would "never lose hope" of finding her.
