08 February 2023 , 07:22
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Police looking for missing mum Nicola Bulley have extended the search to the sea after an expert dive squad couldn't find her in the River Wyre.
It comes as the top investigator said yesterday detectives had ruled out any foul play.
The 45-year-old vanished on a dog walk in St Michaels on Wyre on January 27, with her phone found on a bench overlooking the water.
A major search effort has been launched, which includes drafting in independent underwater forensic experts Specialist Group International this week.
One of Ms Bulley's friend's, Heather Gibbons, said "nothing is making sense" in the case as she said speculation on social media is hurtful to the family.
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
Firm chief Peter Faulding previously told the Mirror his team's sonar could find Nicola in under an hour if she is in the river - however, he expressed doubts she ever fell in.
He added that he considered it almost impossible that she would have been dragged down to the estuary, hypothesising that a body would become "snagged" within 500 metres of the entry point.
Nicola Bulley disappeared on January 27 (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)His team yesterday trawled what they consider the "hot zone", as well several miles up and downstream, but neither they nor police specialists found any evidence of Nicola.
Separate dive teams have since begun searching up towards Morecambe Bay, the officer overseeing the investigation revealed last night.
Miss Gibbons told the BBC: "Up to a certain level, we understand it's human nature, it's natural for everyone to have speculation, because the truth is in this, nothing is making sense."
She added: "I know that the family are massively appreciative of all the police have done [and] we feel we have got the best of the best on that water.
"Hopefully it will be a completion, one way or the other, and if they find nothing, then maybe it's time to start looking down other avenues."
Lancashire Police Superintendent Sally Riley told a press briefing on Tuesday the force continued to rule out any "suspicious or criminal" element to the case.
Specialist Group International (SGI), led by forensic expert Peter Faulding (James Maloney/LancsLive)She said a team of 40 detectives are working on around 500 different lines of inquiry and are identifying more than 700 drivers who travelled through the village around the time Nicola disappeared.
She said: "This is normal in a missing person inquiry and does not indicate that there is any suspicious element to this story.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
"The inquiry team remains fully open-minded to any information that may indicate where Nicola is or what happened to her."
Searchers are now extending up to the sea in a bid to find Nicola (PA)But the police chief emphasised that detectives have not yet come across any evidence of foul play.
"Any criminal or suspicious element has been discarded," she said.
"It is important to stress that any information that comes in that indicates otherwise is being checked out all the time.
"We are not closed in any way to any particular line of inquiry but all these extensive inquiries, however, have so far found anything of note."