Nicola Bulley: Missing mother's partner says she's vanished into thin air

Nicola Bulley has not been seen for a week

Nicola Bulley's partner has said he is focusing on "staying as strong as I can" for their two daughters, a week after her disappearance.

The 45-year-old was last seen on a riverside dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, on 27 January.

A major search for Ms Bulley continues, but no trace of her has been found.

Paul Ansell said: "We're never going to lose the hope. But, right now, it is as though she has vanished into thin air. It's just insane."

He said he "cannot get his head around" his partner's disappearance, adding: "Every single scenario comes to a brick wall. Every single one of them.

"All we are doing is sitting there going round and round and round, going through every scenario."

Mr Ansell, 44, said he was focusing on looking after their daughters - aged six and nine - and said "I don't even want to actually think" about how he was coping. 

Thanking friends and the wider community, Mr Ansell added: "The only thing we can take [from the situation] is, you know, that level of support. It's out of this world.

"It gives us a great amount of comfort, knowing that's going on. We don't have anything else.

"We're never going to lose the hope. But, right now, it is as though she has vanished into thin air. It's just insane."

Ms Bulley's friend Emma White described her as "the most beautiful person" and "the kindest soul - she's thoughtful, she's caring.

"And then you add her and Paul together, add a little bit of magic, and they've created these two beautiful humans who just want to know where their mummy is.

"They are the most close-knit family. Those poor girls asking questions, 'where's mummy, how is mummy?'"

Neighbours and friends are desperate to help

Ms White also told BBC Breakfast: "Seven days on, such a tough milestone today for all the family and friends.

"We're out in force today. We've had banners made, placards with her face, so the idea is that seven days on there might be someone that's passing today that passed last Friday, that might be able to shed that glimmer of hope we need.

"Anybody with any information to help these guys - we just need something. It's not making sense, we've got no information."

Luke Sumner said: "We're going to do absolutely everything possible to find some information as to where Nicola has gone.

"The community spirit has been absolutely phenomenal."

Nicola Bulley's phone was found on a riverside bench, still connected to a work call

Ms Bulley, a mortgage adviser, has lived in Lancashire for 25 years but is originally from near Chelmsford, Essex, and has a southern accent.

Police were alerted to her disappearance when her spaniel, Willow, was found running loose off Garstang Road about 25 minutes after she was last seen by another dog walker.

Her phone was later found on a riverside bench, still connected to a work call.

A harness and lead for her springer spaniel, Willow, was also discovered on the bench.

Police said officers were keeping an "open mind" about what had happened, but did not believe Ms Bulley had been attacked.

Nicola Bulley was walking her dog Willow when she disappeared

Timeline of events

• 08:43 - Ms Bulley walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school

• 08:50 - A dog walker who knows Ms Bulley saw her walking along the lower field. Their two dogs interacted briefly

• 08:53 - Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss

• 09:01 - She logged into a Teams call

• About 09:10 - A witness who knows Ms Bulley saw her on the upper field walking Willow

• 09:30 - The Teams call ended but she stayed logged on

• About 09:35 - Ms Bulley's mobile phone and Willow were found at a bench by the river