Nicola Bulley: Missing woman's partner says family in 'agony' after body found

Nicola Bulley's spouse has spoken of his family's symptom aft a assemblage was recovered successful the stream adjacent wherever she disappeared 3 weeks ago.

Ms Bulley disappeared portion walking her canine successful St Michael's connected Wyre successful Lancashire, sparking a large search.

On Sunday, Lancashire Police said they "sadly recovered a body" from the h2o aft being called to the River Wyre.

A connection said ceremonial recognition had not yet been carried retired "so we are incapable to say" if it was her astatine the time.

The decease is presently being treated arsenic "unexplained" and officers person begun the process of identifying the body.

But Lancashire Police besides said Ms Bulley's household "have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them astatine this astir hard of times".

The 45-year-old, who worked arsenic a owe adviser, was past seen walking her springer spaniel Willow aft dropping disconnected her 2 daughters, aged six and nine, astatine schoolhouse connected 27 January.

Her canine was recovered soon after, on with her telephone - inactive connected to a enactment league telephone - connected a seat by a steep riverbank.

Police antecedently said they believed the Ms Bulley had gone into the stream and that her disappearance was not suspicious.

The assemblage was recovered astir a mile from wherever she was past seen successful the tiny colony of St Michael's connected Wyre. It is understood 2 radical walking their dogs by the stream spotted the assemblage and alerted police.

The information that the assemblage - yet to beryllium formally identified arsenic Nicola Bulley - was recovered little than a mile from wherever she disappeared raises a batch of questions. Specifically, wherefore did it instrumentality 3 weeks?

People volition present beryllium wondering whether the hunt was handled properly, which comes connected apical of a immense absorption connected the mode Lancashire Police person conducted this investigation.

Since Ms Bulley went missing, constabulary person said she was successful the river. They seemed precise assured of that from the start, contempt immoderate of the family's concerns astir their conviction.

How is it then, aft each those extended searches and constabulary saying that was wherever she was, her assemblage was perchance truthful close? It is worthy remembering that this stream is not tremendous - it is simply a tiny watercourse successful parts.

At the bosom of this probe comes the question of however constabulary dealt with the disappearance of a pistillate - specifically the accusation they shared astir her with the nationalist and their quality to woody with the spotlight of attraction that abruptly arrived successful Lancashire.

The hunt drew immense interest, with ample numbers of radical visiting and filming astir the country - arsenic good arsenic important amounts of speculation and assorted unfounded theories being dispersed connected societal media.

The operation of the sheer measurement of radical turning up successful the tiny colony and online speculation led to constabulary issuing dispersal notices and warnings implicit anti-social behaviour.

One influencer was detained and fined aft posting that helium had been successful "people's backmost gardens astatine night-time with torches", portion 2 different radical were besides arrested aft malicious messages were sent to parish councillors astir the case.

In a motion of the important levels of attraction being paid to the case, Lancashire Police's probe besides faced a backlash aft disclosing Ms Bulley's struggles with the menopause and alcohol, which they said was "to debar immoderate further speculation".

Ms Bulley's household said they were alert that constabulary were revealing the item arsenic determination were "people retired determination speculating and threatening to merchantability stories astir her".

Concerns astir the constabulary connection was expressed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, aft which Lancashire Police announcing it would behaviour an interior reappraisal into its investigation.