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20th February 2023
04:54pm GMT
Lancashire Police has said it needs more time to identify the body that was pulled from the River Wyre yesterday.
It is currently unable to confirm whether it is the missing mum-of-two who was last seen over three weeks ago, the Metro reports.
The force are holding a press conference at 5:30pm today (February 20) to update the public on the investigation.Police said procedures to identify the body are still ongoing and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.
The 45-year-old was last seen walking her dog in the village of St Michael's on Wyre at 9.10am on January 27. Police on Sunday confirmed they had recovered a body around a mile from where the mortgage broker went missing, after being called to the River Wyre, near Rawcliffe Road, at 11:35 am that day. It is understood that a man and a woman walking their dog near the river called the force to report seeing a person in the water. Following the statement on Sunday from Lancashire Police about the discovery of a body in the river, Nicola's partner Paul Ansell told Sky News: "No words right now, just agony. "We're all together, we have to be strong." The discovery on Sunday came after roads were closed off near the scene where she went missing. Divers were examining the scene less than a mile from where the mortgage broker was last spotted. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith was also at the riverside. A man and a woman were earlier seen pointing to a spot in the River Wyre, while police drones and a helicopter could also be seen overhead. A photographer at the scene said: "It all happened so fast. Police have sealed all the roads off. It's fair to say a massive search is underway." Related links:Explore more on these topics:
