‘Every day is a struggle’: Father of missing Nicola Bulley hopes for ‘breakthrough’

The father of missing Nicola Bulley says that “every day is a struggle” as the family waits for news.

Ernie Bulley’s words came three weeks after his 45-year-old daughter disappeared while walking her dog in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire.

“Every day is a struggle,” he told Sky News.

“[We’re] no further on from three weeks ago.

“[We] just need a breakthrough to give us some hope.”

Lancashire Police have said their “main working hypothesis” has been that Ms Bulley, a mortgage adviser, fell into the River Wyre between 9.10am and 9.20am on Friday 27 January.

Earlier this week, police were criticised after revealing that the mother-of-two had suffered from “significant issues with alcohol” which were “brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause”.

Police said those struggles had “resurfaced over recent months”.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman demanded an “explanation” from police over the decision to reveal such personal details, while a former detective told Sky News that police had “completely destroyed” Ms Bulley’s reputation.

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Andrew Snowden, Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner, this morning said officers are being “as transparent as they can be” in what is an “incredibly sensitive and complex case”.

The case has attracted massive public interest, especially from amateur sleuths and social media video-makers, who have been coming up with their own theories for Ms Bulley’s disappearance.

Police have said these people and their actions have “distracted significantly” from the official investigation.

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At the time, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said: “In 29 years’ police service I’ve never seen anything like it.

“Some of it has been quite shocking and really hurtful to the family.”