Nicola Bulley divers are carrying out key tests which could unlock answer to mystery disappearance

Nicola Bulley

Specialists were filmed in the River Wyre in Lancashire on April 4 less than a mile from the bank where Nicola Bulley vanished

PA
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 15/04/2023

- 14:32

Updated: 15/04/2023

- 14:32

Specialists were filmed in the River Wyre on April 4 near where the body of Nicola Bulley was found

A coroner investigating the death of Nicola Bulley has warned against speculation after divers returned to the location where the mother-of-two was found.

Specialists were filmed in the River Wyre in Lancashire on April 4 less than a mile from the bank where the mother of two vanished on January 27.


Nicola's body was found 23 days after she disappeared while walking her dog along the River Wyre.

Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire, asked police to return to the water for investigative work to help confirm her cause of death and what happened before she was found in the reeds.

Nicola Bulley with her dog

Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking her dog along the River Wyre on January 27

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Lancashire police have now revealed that divers returned to the scene to assess the river banks.

A spokesperson said: "There has been misinformed speculation over the past few days relating to police activity in the River Wyre.

"As previously stated, police divers were acting under instruction of HM Senior Coroner and had been asked to assess the riverbanks in the vicinity of where Nicola Bulley went missing.

"They had not been tasked either to perform any further searches within the river or along the banks or to locate any articles.

"This activity is to assist with the coronial process."

HM Senior Coroner, Dr Adeley, added: "Speculation as to the role and purpose of Officers acting on my instructions is unhelpful in the resolution of this inquest."

Forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd previously claimed police were searching for "a missing object" in the river near to where her body was found.

Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley also revealed that is it strange for officers to be sent to a scene more than once.

"It's quite common for the CPS in a complex case to send police officers to interview a witness, but it's extremely rare for forensic officers to be sent to a scene twice," he told the MailOnline.

Flowers and ribbons on a bridge

​Flowers and ribbons were left on a bridge over the River Wyre when the mum-of-two disappeared 

PA

An inquest into Nicola's death is to be held on June 26.

A spokesman for HM Coroner said: "The investigation will take time to complete to ensure that as complete a picture as possible of the facts concerning Ms Bulley's death is presented at the inquest.

"This will assist the family in understanding what occurred."

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