Nicola Bulley: Witness 'quickly' comes forward
Lancashire police put out an appeal for help tracing a woman earlier on Saturday evening
Last updated 5th Feb 2023
A potential witness who police believe may be able to help in the investigation into the disappearance of Nicola Bulley has come forward.
Earlier on Saturday evening as part of the search for the missing mum, Lancashire Police put out an appeal to find a witness in St Michael’s on Wyre.
Tonight detectives say the woman came forward very quickly and thanked her for her support.
They also stress she was very much being treated as a witness and was one of many people in St Michael’s on Friday, January 27th.
The add "enquiries to find Nicola are extensive and will include speaking to as many members of the public as possible.
"The speculation and abuse on social media aimed at some people who are merely assisting our enquiry on social media is totally unacceptable.
"We would urge people to remember that we are investigating the disappearance of Nicola, and the priority is Nicola and her family. We want to find her and provide answers to her family.
"As part of the intensive search for Nicola, we are again asking for drivers for dash cam footage from the Blackpool Road/Garstang Road area of St Michael’s on Friday, January 27, between 9am and 10am.
"Whilst you may not think that you hold any relevant information, it is really important that we gather as much footage as possible in the area that morning so we can review every piece meticulously to establish whether Nicola can be seen.
"We know from the footage we are currently reviewing, that this is a busy road, particularly at that time in the morning.
There will be many people who were in that area at the time who may not think they can help, we would urge you not to make that decision yourself and to come forward so we can have as much material as possible to assist the investigation."
What we know so far
A timeline of Nicola Bulley's last known movements has been released by Lancashire Police:
8.43am: Ms Bulley walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school.
Around 8.50am: A dogwalker who knows Ms Bulley 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: Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss.
9.01am: She logged into a Teams call.
Around 9.10am: Somebody who knows Ms Bulley saw her on the upper field walking her dog, Willow. Lancashire Police say they are trying to establish exactly what time this was.
9.30am: The Teams call ended but Ms Bulley stayed logged on.
Around 9.35am: Her mobile phone and dog were found at a bench by the river by another dogwalker.