LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb 2023

LANCASHIRE POLICE HAVE confirmed that Nicola Bulley’s body has been found in the River Wyre, and that the case is now being handled by the coroner. 

A police spokesperson said that they recognise the “huge impact” that Nicola’s disappearance had on her family and friends, and they thanked everyone who was involved in the “hugely complex and highly emotional investigation”. 

The Detective Chief Superintendent read out a statement on behalf of Nicola’s family, in which they criticised members of the press who they say ran stories about them to increase “profits”. 

 The statement said that the family will “never forget Nicki”. 

“How could we when she was the centre of our world. She was the one who made out lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that,” it further read. 

The family also hit out at at “press members” who accused Nicola’s partner Paul Ansell of “wrongdoing” and “misquoted and vilified friends and family”. 

“This is absolutely appalling. They have to be held to accountable. This cannot happen to another family,” the statement said. 

The family statement also took aim at several news outlets.

“We tried last night to take in what we had been told in the day, only to have Sky News and ITV making contact with us directly, when we expressly asked for privacy.

“They again have taken it upon themselves to run stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profits. It is shameful that they have acted in this way.

“These are our lives and our children’s lives. To those who genuinely helped and supported us privately, we thank you. The community support from friends, neighbours and strangers has been nothing short of comforting and heartwarming. Friends you know who you are. Thank you,” the family added in their statement. 

Lastly, in a moving tribute to Nicola, the statement said: “Nicki you are no longer a missing person. You have been found. We can let you rest now.”

Nicola Bulley’s body was found yesterday morning around a mile from where the 45-year-old mortgage adviser was last seen.

She had been walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on 27 January.

It is understood that a man and a woman walking their dog discovered the body and called police.

Yesterday, Lancashire Constabulary said officers were called to the River Wyre close to Rawcliffe Road at around 11.35am.

“An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body,” a statement made yesterday said, before the body had been formally identified. 

Nicola’s body was found on an unremarkable stretch of the river, just past a slight bend, a mile or so outside the village, close to where a tree had fallen on its side half in and half outside the water, with branches and undergrowth partially submerged.

Police had earlier erected a tent and cordoned off the lane while police divers were called in, but the road was reopened around three hours later once the body was recovered.

The area attracted press interest and members of the public including one woman who told reporters she was a clairvoyant and had “picked up” an area of the river on Saturday night.