Police have found a body in the search for missing dog walker Nicola Bulley.
Ms Bulley, 45, a mother of two, vanished on 27 January while walking her dog after dropping off her daughters at school in St Michael’s on Wyre.
Her disappearance prompted a large-scale search operation involving detectives, fire crews, mountain rescuers and police helicopters.
On Sunday, police launched a new diving operation and rushed to seal off a road after a tip-off was received from two walkers.
Lancashire Police later confirmed a body had been recovered from the River Wyre, close to where Ms Bulley vanished.
The force said they were unable to confirm whether the body is of missing Ms Bulley at this time as they wait for formal identification to be carried out.
A spokesman said: ‘We were called today at 11.36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road.
‘An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
‘No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time.
‘Procedures to identify the body are on-going. We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
‘Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.’
A tent has been erected and a wide cordon remains in place. Police scrambled a huge search after the two walkers spotted the body.
Detective superintendent Smith arrived moments before police confirmed the heartbreaking discovery.
The male walker was seen ashen faced as he talked to police and pointed at an outcrop of trees and undergrowth along the bank, saying: ‘There’s definitely a body there’.
By 1pm on Sunday police drones and a helicopter hovered over the outcrop of trees and undergrowth, while police divers took to the banks of the river Wyre.
Soon afterwards, Lancashire Police confirmed that a body had been located in the river.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman described developments in the case of Nicola Bulley as ‘heart-breaking and distressing’ after a body was found in the River Wyre.
The discovery came four days after the Lancashire force was heavily criticised for releasing a statement referring to Bulley’s struggles with alcohol and the perimenopause.
