Nicola Bulley latest news and update as partner Paul Ansell believes local person is to blame for her disappearance
The search for Nicola Bulley continues, the mother of two has been missing for over two weeks. She disappeared on January 27 while walking her dog and has not been seen since she launched a major search in the area of St Michael on Wyre in Lancashire.
Nicolas partner Paul Ansell revealed several bombshells in a recent interview with Dan Walker. He spoke about how he knew he would be considered a suspect and said he believed a local person was responsible for her disappearance.
He also said his “gut feeling” was that she wasn’t in the river, with an extensive search of the River Wyre having so far proved unsuccessful. He described Ms Bulley as “funny”, “loving”, “the most loyal friend you could ever have” and an “extraordinary mother” who “absolutely adores our girls”.
READ ALSO: Nicola Bulley’s Partner Paul Ansell On The Frantic Early Search For The Mother Of Two As He Addresses Doubts About The TV Interview
“She’s just a pillar of strength for our family and without her, the hole is bigger than you can imagine,” he told 5 News.
Mr Ansell said that although the family is going through “unprecedented hell” he hopes his mate is found and said the family’s faith is “stronger than ever”.
We bring you the latest live updates on the quest for Nicola on our dedicated live blog, loading below.
13:24Megan Banners
Little boy tied ribbon with ‘message of hope’
A young boy was photographed tying a yellow ribbon with a message of hope written on it to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley, 45, continues.
13:01Alex Grove
Police patrols take place upstream and downstream today
Police officers were photographed on a footpath in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, as they continue their search for missing Nicola Bulley.
12:25Megan Banners
Experts explain why Nicola Bulley’s dog is ‘running back and forth’
Animal behavior and training consultant Nina Bondarenko said that Willow’s back-and-forth between the bench and the gate is related to spaniels’ “flushing behavior.” She explained: “They are bred to hunt and retrieve, and they are bred to track game, so they have to be very manageable at range, they have to be responsive at range.
“They were never bred to be guard dogs. Some of the larger hunting and retriever breeds were, but these never were, they were always just happy, intense little working dogs that tracked game.”
11:58Megan Banners
Last picture by Nicola Bulley
The last picture of Nicola Bulley, 45, on her doorbell shows the clothes she was wearing while walking her dog Wilow before she went missing.
Police are still conducting an extensive search in hopes of bringing the mother of two home.
11:29Megan Banners
The map shows the last known movements of Nicola Bulley
A map shows Nicola Bulley’s last known movements before her disappearance on January 27.
10:57Megan Banners
Police are trying to track down a ‘shabby looking’ red van
Police officers investigating Nicola Bulley’s disappearance are said to have been trying to track down a “shabby looking” red van that had been sighted near the area where the mother disappeared.
Officers have now extended their search to the sea and are reportedly working to locate the owner of a “shabby looking” red van that was parked nearby, the Mirror reports. A concerned local resident told the Times they noticed the vehicle, believed to be a Renault, outside a nearby barn.
Full story here.
10:28Megan Banners
A tape with a message of hope was left near the crime scene
A yellow ribbon with a message of hope has been attached to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, near where Nicola disappeared.
Police today continue their search for missing Nicola Bulley, 45, who was last seen on the morning of January 27 walking her dog on a footpath by the nearby River Wyre.
09:58key event
What happened this weekend while looking for Nicola?
An hour-long documentary on Nicolas’ disappearance was broadcast on Channel 5 on Friday. It included an interview with partner Paul Ansell, in which he spoke candidly about being viewed as a suspect and why he believes a local person is to blame.
Searches continued over the weekend and reports have emerged of a witness who said he saw “two suspicious men” near where Nicola went missing.
A retired detective has also commented on the case. She said she believes Nicola fell into the river because of three key factors.
09:26key event
“Nicola Bulley fell in the river,” says the detective
A retired detective says she supports the police theory that missing Lancashire mother-of-two Nicola Bulley fell in the water based on three factors.
Read the whole story here.
09:13Alex Grove
The bank where Nicola Bulley’s phone was found
This is the bank where Nicola Bulley’s phone was found. It is situated on the banks of the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
Nicola was last seen on the morning of January 27 walking her dog on a riverside footpath.
08:56Alex Grove
Missing appeal posters in the area where Nicola went missing
A missing persons appeal poster for Nicola Bulley was displayed on a bridge crossing the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
Many of these have been placed around the area to encourage people to come forward with information about Nicolas’ disappearance.
08:26Alex Grove
Who is Peter Faulding?
A team of experts works with the police to find Nicola. They include Peter Faulding, CEO of private underwater search and recovery company Specialist Group International (SGI).
SGI offered its services free of charge and Peter has spoken to the media about the case since his company became involved.
Read more about SGI and Peter Faulding here.
08:10Alex Grove
Paul Ansell ‘100% convinced’ Nicola is not in the flow
Despite an extensive search of the river and surrounding countryside by Lancashire Police, no trace of Nicola has been found.
Speaking about it, her partner Paul Ansell said: “You know, as you probably know, that extensive searches have been carried out on this river.
“The fact that the divers and the underwater rescue team and everyone who was in that river that day, fortunately, found absolutely nothing in the part that would have to be assumed to be their last known whereabouts.”
He continued, “Personally, I’m 100% convinced it’s not the river, that’s my opinion.”
07:54key event
“Witness spotted two suspicious men near Nicola Bulley’s route”
The latest development is that a witness has told police he saw two men acting suspiciously near where Nicola Bulley went missing.
The witness reportedly came forward after spotting the pair outside the local church in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, the day before Nicola’s disappearance.
Read the whole story here.
07:52Alex Grove
The quest begins on the 17th day
The search for Nicola is now in its 17th day. She went missing on the morning of January 27 when the 45-year-old disappeared while out walking her springer spaniel, Willow, near the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre.
This walk came shortly after she dropped her daughters, ages six and nine, from school.