10 February 2023 , 21:12
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Nicola Bulley's partner has said the couple walked "same route for years" and strangers "stuck out like a sore thumb" - and believes a local could be behind the disappearance of the missing mum.
The 45-year-old was last seen walking her dog Willow after dropping her daughters off at school in the small village of St Michaels on Wyre on January 27.
In an interview with Channel 5's Dan Walker, Paul Ansell says he and Nicola first started walking along the river path more than a decade ago - and know everyone they ever see.
He feels she didn't fall into the water - and says someone in the Lancashire town could hold the answers.
The missing mum vanished in Lancashire on January 27 (PA)He said on 'Vanished: Where is Nicola Bulley?' that the missing mum's family are going though 'unprecedented hell' as 'nothing seems real'.
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As the search for the missing woman prepares to enter a third week, the father opened up about the family's torment.
He told the presenter that everyone in the town is familiar to them - but says "it has to be somebody who knows the local area".
"We've walked down there for years and I mean years, you know, we've, we've, when we, me and Nikki met 12 years ago, we used to walk our dogs that we had, you know, that Nikki had, when I met her," he said.
Police are working on the theory that she entered the water and say there is no reason to believe third-party involvement (Facebook)
The search for Ms Bulley is about to enter a third week (Nikki Bulley - Mortgage Adviser/Facebook)"We used to take the dogs down there 12 years ago. Since the children have gone to the school, we've done it every week.
"It's about as well known a walk to us as you could possibly do.
"You see the same faces every single day, and on the very odd occasion when you see somebody that you don't know. They stand out like a sore thumb."
On what could have possibly happened to Nicola, he added: "You know, that's weird. I don't know them.
"I don't know. I've never seen them before. Everyone's the same. So whatever has happened, in my eyes, has to be somebody who knows the local area.
Dan Walker tonight talks to concerned Paul Ansell (twitter.com/mrdanwalker)"The fact that nothing's been seen or heard, I just truly believe that it's something in the village."
Distress Mr Ansell says that they haven’t given up on her as she wouldn't give up on anyone else.
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He says he '100% knows' the missing mum is not in river as the two-week search to find the dog walker continues.
He told the presenter: "Personally, I am 100 per cent convinced it’s not the river, that’s my opinion.
"Because people don't just vanish into thin air, it's absolutely impossible. So something has happened.
"Something has happened. Find out what it is. Find out what it is."
Police are working on the theory that Nicola entered the water and say there is no reason to believe third-party involvement.