Nicola Bulley: Lancashire village will live with the pain of losing one of their own for a long time

The village of St Michael’s on Wyre was stunned after the disappearance of Nicola Bulley three weeks ago which has felt impossible for everyone to fathom.

A mum-of-two who had been in this village almost every day vanished – nobody knew how, nobody knew where to, until Sunday morning when two dog-walkers spotted a body in the River Wyre a mile downstream from where Nicola Bulley’s phone, dog Willow and a lead were all discovered.

It has left a family in “agony and heartbreak”, her partner Paul said, but also a village in mourning.

The last 24 days have been surreal for this quaint and quiet parish – the nation’s eyes and ears have been glued to the events of this mystery, everyone asking the same questions.

What happened to Nicola Bulley? Where did she go? Why did she disappear?

Answers have been limited, evidence and clues non-existent, but the discovery of her body has been the news that no-one wished for.

Yellow ribbons of hope attached to the iron bridge which Nicola walked along on Friday 27 January, fluttered in the wind as her body was being recovered by police.

Hope hasn’t been in short supply here, but it was shattered when a police helicopter descended on the village, flying low to identify what had been spotted in the water.

Speaking to Sky News, a farmer who lives in the village, Alice Pimbley, said: “It’s just so scary and the fact it’s so close to home is even worse.

“Nothing like this has happened in this safe little village and the whole community is gobsmacked. The last three weeks haven’t been nice, just driving through here, seeing all the police everywhere it’s not normal for us.”

As the news broke that a body had been discovered, the ribbons of hope turned to flowers marking respect.

The village will be in shock for some time to come.

Not many will forget the tragic story of Nicola Bulley here. They will live with the pain of losing one of their own for a long, long time.