‘Potentially key’ witness to disappearance of dog walker Nicola Bulley found – as friends tell of ‘nightmare’
A “potentially key” witness to the disappearance of dog walker Nicola Bulley has been found and is now being spoken to by Lancashire Police, officers have revealed.
The force had put an appeal out for the man to come forward earlier on Tuesday.
He was described as about 70-years-old, and is believed to have been in the area at the time Ms Bulley went missing.
In a statement, Ms Bulley’s family said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support from our community and would like to thank everyone for their ongoing efforts to help us find Nicola.
“The girls are desperate to have their mummy back home safe with them and your ongoing efforts have provided comfort to them whilst we await news on Nicola.”
The 45-year-old mother of two was last seen at 9.15am on Friday by a member of the public.
Her mobile phone was found on a bench near where she was last seen on a towpath by the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire. It was still connected to a conference call when it was found.
Ms Bulley’s dog, a springer spaniel called Willow, was found loose between the river and bench.
A search of the area involving police specialist resources, working alongside colleagues from the Coastguard and Bowland Mountain Rescue, is continuing, the force said.
Officers have said they are “extremely concerned” for Ms Bulley’s welfare, but stressed that the investigation still remained a missing person inquiry and there is nothing, at the moment, to suggest third-party involvement in her disappearance.
Officers from Lancashire Police are searching for Nicola Bulley
‘We just want her home’
Friends of Ms Bulley have told Sky News “we just want her home”.
Emma White said: “We’ve got two little girls wanting their mummy, so if anyone has any information please just come forward.”
She described Ms Bulley as “the kindest, beautiful, lovely human being inside and out”, adding that her partner, Paul, was “being strong as possible” for the couple’s two children, aged nine and six.
“We don’t know why she’s gone missing, where she is, we just want her home,” she said.
Map showing where Nicola Bulley went missing
Ms White and another friend, Heather Gibbons, have been part of a widespread community search following the disappearance of Ms Bulley.
“We want to hold on to the hope that no news is good news,” Ms Gibbons said.
“But knowing Nicky, we just know that if she could be at home with her girls we very firmly believe that is where she would be.”
“She’d do anything for anybody, she is so well-loved within the community and school community.”
Ms Gibbons added: “It feels very surreal. You just want to wake up from it because it feels like a nightmare, that’s what it is… a nightmare.”
Police said on Monday they were keeping an “open mind” about what happened, but they do not believe Ms Bulley was attacked.
‘Perpetual hell’
Ms Bulley’s partner, Paul Ansell, said he spent all of Sunday searching for her.
Mr Ansell, an engineer, said: “It is just perpetual hell. It is just utter disbelief.”
“We are living through this but it doesn’t feel real,” he said from the family home in Inskip, Lancashire.
“All we can say is we need to find her. She’s got two little girls that need their mummy home.
“We have got to get some good news now.”
Ms Bulley, also known as Nikki, and Mr Ansell have been in a relationship for 12 years.
Police indicated she dropped her children at a local primary school before walking her dog on Friday.
“I got a call from the school regarding somebody who had found Willow, and Nikki’s phone and the dog lead and harness on the bench,” Mr Ansell, who then called the police, said.
“We take the kids to school and take the dog down there – either myself or Nikki – nearly every day.”
Ms Bulley, a mortgage adviser, is originally from Chelmsford, Essex and has lived in Lancashire for 25 years. Police said she speaks with an Essex accent.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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