02 February 2023 , 15:52
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Police searching for missing Nicola Bulley have released precise details of her whereabouts in the moments before she vanished.
The mum, 45, was last seen at around 9.20am on Friday while walking her brown spaniel Willow in St Michael's, Lancashire.
Around 40 minutes later, the alarm was raised when a member of the public recognised Willow alone and without her harness.
Nicola, a mortgage adviser, has not been seen or heard from since as family, friends and the close-knit community grow increasingly concerned about her whereabouts.
Her disappearance has sparked a huge search along the River Wyre in the Lancashire village.
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
Detectives have released a CCTV image of a fellow dog walker they believe was in the area when mortgage adviser Nicola was last seen.
Nicola with her partner Paul Ansell and children at Centre Parcs in December
Her brown cocker spaniel Willow (Dave Nelson)The potential witness is pictured wearing a red and white coat with a fur hood, light-coloured trousers and a light bobble hat.
At this point, there is nothing to suggest any third party involvement in Nicola’s disappearance.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We would now like to speak to the woman pictured on the CCTV image, who we believe was in the area at the time Nicola was last seen and who may have information that could help us.
Police released this satellite image showing Nicola's known last steps (Lancashire Police)"We would stress that the woman is sought as a witness and nothing more."
The woman was seen on CCTV at around 8.48am on Allotment Lane, close to where Nicola was last seen and was also seen near to the gate at the end of the street.
Nicola disappeared after taking her children to school (strava)
The CCTV image issued by police of a woman they wish to speak to (PA)We can now confirm the following timings from the morning Nicola was last seen:
8.43am: Nicola walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school
8:50am (approximately): A dog-walker, known to 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: Nicola sent an email to her boss
9.01am: She logged into a Teams call
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Nicola Bulley was out walking her dog Willow when she was last seen on Friday morning (strava)9.10am (approximately): A witness, somebody who knows Nicola, saw her on the upper field walking her dog Willow Work is ongoing today to establish exactly what time this was.
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
Divers continue to search the water (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Flowers have been left for the missing mum (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Earlier today, police divers returned to the spot where Nicola was last seen to carry out an extensive new search of the area.
The diving team trawled beneath the surface of the River Wyre while other officers combed the banks.
Meanwhile, a separate team with specialist search dogs searched the water surface onboard a fire service boat.