03 February 2023 , 16:03
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A friend of missing Nicola Bulley has slammed "cruel" and "attention-seeking" psychics and armchair detectives speculating on what happened to her.
The mortgage adviser, 45, hasn't been seen since last Friday when she vanished walking her dog on a footpath along the River Wyre in the small village of St Michael's-on-the-Wyre in Lancashire.
The mum-of-two's disappearance has gripped the nation as police today shared they believe she fell into the river and it was not suspicious.
However, this hasn't stopped self-proclaimed psychics and armchair detectives to share their own harmful theories from behind their computer screens.
One psychic claimed Nicola was wearing wellies and was grabbed from behind and taken and another one claimed the mum was clinging to branches in the river.
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
Nicola Bulley is still missing seven days on (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)Furthermore, many have shared their own baseless theories about what happened and some speculated there was criminal involvement - despite the police insisting for a week there was no third-party involvement.
A family friend has today slammed these people, saying it was "cruel and unhelpful".
Lancashire Police's Superintendent Sally Riley also said today that speculation was "really distressing for the family and for Nicola’s children".
Members of the public line the road into St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, with missing posters of Nicola Bulley (PA)Speaking about one of the supposed psychics, the friend, who did not want to be named, told the Mirror: "I feel she could have got the information about the wellies from the media. It has been well documented what she was wearing. I think this is very distressing for friends and family to read.
"Has she taken her information to the police? Is she willing to travel to the area and show the police where these marks are because they have not found anything?
"Other psychics have said she is in the water clinging on to branches.
"Why are they all seeing differently? They are not all right!"
Nicola Bulley with her partner Paul Ansell at Centre Parcs in December
The family dog Willow (Dave Nelson)She added she thinks this is just a way of "attention seeking" during a time of distress.
So-called internet sleuths have also created pages on social media where they share appeals and information. However, some have escalated to spreading unfound rumours.
The friend added: "I’d say please remember that this is someone’s partner, mummy, daughter, sister and friend.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Nicola's family are desperate for answers (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)"They do not know anything about the people involved. They perhaps need to find a better way of occupying their time.
"They could do something more useful and proactive with their time… help search, share posters, etc but allegations are cruel and unhelpful."
It comes as police said today that their “main working hypothesis” is that she fell into the River Wyre and that “this is not suspicious but a tragic case of a missing person”.
The search for Nicola continues in the River Wyre on February 3 (CHRIS NEILL)She told reporters at the village hall: "We have not found Nicola - but our search continues."
Supt Riley said their search had stretched 15 kilometres to the coast, officers have combed CCTV and dashcam footage and gone door-to-door to try and paint a picture of what happened.
She said from this they were able to determine that Nicola did not leave the riverside.
Nicola's family are desperate for answersShe added: “The inquiry team has undertaken a number of dashcams, CCTV and ring doorbell footage. This has allowed us to eliminate any trace so far of Nicola having left the riverside, which is really important.
“We believe that Nicola was in the riverside area and remained at the riverside area. We remain open to any inquiries that might lead us to question that, but at this time we understand that she was by the river.
“Our main working hypothesis, therefore, is that Nicola has sadly fallen into the river, that there is 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.”
Police today also released an updated description of Nicola.
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, ankle-length black quilted gilet. She had a black Vector coat underneath which had long sleeves and came to her waist.
Nicola’s phone was found on a bench on the banks of the River Wyre (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)She was wearing tight black jeans and had long green walking socks tucked into her jeans. She was wearing ankle-length green wellington boots from Next.
Her hair was tied into a ponytail. She was wearing a necklace and a pale blue Fitbit.
Supt Riley said their search had stretched 15 kilometres to the coast, officers have combed CCTV and dashcam footage and gone door-to-door to try and paint a picture of what happened.
She said from this they were able to determine that Nicola did not leave the riverside.
Police released this map to illustrate Nicola's movements (Lancashire Police)A member of the public raised the alarm when they spotted the brown spaniel running loose without its harness and recognised Nicola's phone on a bench.
They called her daughters' school and then phoned Nicola's partner Pau Ansell.
At the time of her disappearance, Nicola's phone was still connected to a work call.
The Mirror today revealed how minutes before that call l she had texted a friend about meeting up sometime this week with her kids.
Supt Sally Riley speaking to media on February 3Nicola's disappearance has captured the nation as police are still searching for the mum.
Earlier today, the Mirror retraced Nicola's steps before she went missing.
Paul Ansell also spoke publicly for the first time today and said he's trying to be strong for his daughters.
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.