Nicola Bulley update as Lancashire Police answer questions about missing mum's disappearance

Lancashire Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson defended his force’s investigation into the case of the missing mum-of-two during a televised press conference at the force’s HQ in Hutton, South Ribble.

Setting out the details of the probe in more detail than police “normally” would, he said the scale of the investigation has been “unprecedented”.

During the 30-minute briefing, it was confirmed that “not one piece of evidence has been found” to suggest a “criminal aspect or third party involvement”.

For the first time, it also was revealed that Nicola’s partner Paul Ansell told police the missing mum had ‘specific vulnerabilities’ which had informed their investigation from the outset.

Senior investigating officer Detective Supt Rebecca Smith said she was unable to elaborate on what those ‘vulnerabilities’ were, describing them as ‘private and personal’.

But she explained: “Those vulnerabilities based our decision-making in terms of grading Nicola as high risk and have continued to form part of my investigation throughout.”

During the press conference, Det Supt Rebecca Smith sought to combat disinformation about Nicola’s disappearance amid growing speculation about what might have happened to her and criticism of the police effort.

She said her “main working hypothesis” remains that the mortgage adviser fell in the river during a 10-minute window between 9.10am and 9.20am that day, but said this theory has not limited the scope of the investigation.

She reiterated that all leads are being thoroughly investigated but the force has yet to find any evidence that a third party was involved.

Asked whether she was confident that Nicola would be found alive, Det Supt Smith said: “I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything.”