Search for Nicola Bulley Leads to Discovery of Body

Police have been looking for Nicola for the last three weeks (Picture: PA)

A body has been found in the search for missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley police have confirmed.

Nicola went missing three weeks ago and earlier today officers sealed off a road close to the River Wyre.

Lancashire Police said today: ‘This morning, Sunday, 19 February, you may be aware of police activity around the river near to St Michaels.

‘We want to provide you with an update on that activity.

‘We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road.

‘An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.

‘No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.

Nicola vanished on the morning of January 27 (Picture: Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS)

The mum-of-two has been missing since January 27 (Picture: PA)

Specialist divers were back on the River Wyre earlier today (Picture: Getty)

A police officer walks in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continued their search earlier today Picture: PA)

‘Procedures to identify the body are on-going. We are currently treating the death as unexplained.

‘Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.’

Nicola was last seen at 9.10am on January 27, taking her usual route with her dog, Willow, alongside the river.

Earlier that morning, she had dropped off her two young daughters at school.

Her phone – still connected to a work call – was found about 20 minutes later on a bench overlooking the riverbank, with her spaniel running around, but Nicola was nowhere to be found.

Nicola Bulley’s final movements – and the CCTV blackspots in the area (Picture: Metro.co.uk)

The main working hypothesis was that she had fallen into the river after dropping her dog’s ball by mistake, and had drowned.

Detectives continue to maintain the stance that no third party is involved in the case.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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