Nicola Bulley: Family of missing dog walker say her ‘children need her home’ and they are ‘stuck in a nightmare’
The heartbroken sister and father of missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley say “her children need her home” and described being “stuck in a nightmare” since her disappearance.
Ms Bulley, 45, was last seen on Friday 27 January at around 9.15am on a footpath by the River Wyre in the Lancashire village of St Michael’s.
Her sister Louise Cunningham told Sky News: “If I’m being honest, it feels like I’m just stuck in a nightmare.
“We’re going round and round in circles trying to piece together what could have possibly happened.
“It’s like she’s just vanished into thin air. We just want her home, we need her home, her children need her home. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
In their first interview since Ms Bulley disappeared on Friday morning, her family have made an emotional appeal to anyone who may have seen her or knows where she is to come forward and speak to police.
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Nicola Bulley family interview in full
Her father Ernie Bulley, 73, told Sky News of the “pain” the “close-knit family” are feeling.
Nicola Bulley and her sister Louise Cunningham
Nicola Bulley’s sister Louise, her father Ernie and mother Dot
“This has just emptied our lives at the minute, we just feel so empty,” he said.
“We appreciate everything everyone is doing to find her. The police have been brilliant, the local community has been outstanding. But at the end of the day we just want her back.”
He added: “We need the public to search their minds for anything they might have seen. The main thing is we want to find Nicola and get her back home.
“There are two young children there waiting for their mummy to come back. And if Nicola is out there and she’s watching this – come home, contact the police. We just want you back.”
Potential new witness seen on CCTV. Pic: Lancashire Constabulary
Lancashire Constabulary have identified a potential witness they want to speak to and said they thought “the woman was in the area at the time” Ms Bulley went missing.
Daughters think their mummy will walk through door
Speaking of Ms Bulley’s two daughters, their grandfather told Sky News: “They know mummy is missing, but they also know she’s going to be coming home and that everyone’s looking for her.
“It’s only a matter of time that they’re thinking in their minds she will walk through that door.”
The family, who are originally from Essex, all now live in the north of England to be closer to Ms Bulley, a mortgage adviser, who moved there 25 years ago.
Her sister Louise said: “There’s got to be somebody out there that knows something.
“All we are asking is no matter how small or big, if there’s anything that you can remember that just doesn’t seem right then please reach out to the police. Please just get in touch and get my sister back.”
Rescue workers search for the missing mother-of-two
Nicola’s mobile phone was found on a bench near where she disappeared and was still connected to a conference call when it was spotted.
Her dog, a springer spaniel called Willow, was found loose between the river and the bench.
She was last seen wearing a long black gilet jacket with a hood, black jeans and olive green ankle wellies. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.
As well as Inskip and St Michael’s on Wyre, she also has links to Thornton Cleveleys.
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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