15 February 2023 , 14:01
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Police have said it was "totally normal" for Nicola Bulley's dog Willow to be off her harness, as she was when a dogwalker discovered the pet roaming unaccompanied.
Lancashire Police have updated the public about the ongoing search for the missing mum-of-two, who vanished while walking her dog 19 days ago.
Nicola disappeared while walking her springer spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped her two daughters - aged six and nine - at school on January 27.
Rebecca Smith, the detective superintendent leading the inquiry, said in Wednesday's press conference that Nicola was last seen at about 9.10am in a field by the river, when everything had seemed normal.
She was walking her dog Willow, who was off the lead.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Ms Smith said at around 9:33am, a local dogwalker found Willow off her lead and Bulley's mobile phone on a bench nearby.
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson (L) and Get. Supt. Rebecca Smith (R), at a press conference on Wednesday morning (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The witness subsequently made a number of phone calls, including to a local vet in an initially unsuccessful attempt to find out who owned the dog.
"A number of inconsistencies have been raised in relation to Nicola's dog," Ms Smith said, adding that "it was really normal for Willow to not have her harness on".
"It would been taken off when they entered the field and only put back on when they were ready to leave the field," she told reporters.
On Wednesday morning, officers were spotted at a river pumping station near to where Nicola went missing.
Nicola with her partner Paul Ansell (Facebook)At a press conference on February 3 the force first told the public of its "main working hypothesis" that the mortgage adviser fell in the river during a "10-minute window" between 9.10am and 9.20am that day.
There is still "no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement" in Nicola Bulley's disappearance, police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said: "I would emphasise that it remains the case there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement in Nicola's disappearance.
"However, the officers involved in the investigation are the same experienced specialists and many senior officers who are concerned with the investigation of the most serious and complex crimes."
St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, pictured as police continue their search for Nicola (PA)There has been an "unprecedented amount of work on the investigation to find her", he added.
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Mr Lawson continued: "We have a dedicated team of more than 40 detectives.
"They are looking through hundreds of hours of CCTV, dashcam footage, speaking to nuemrous witnesses, carrying out digital enquiries and examining hundreds of pieces of information submitted by public."
Police also said they have been "inundated with false information, accusations and rumours which is distracting" them from their work to find Nicola.