Nicola Bulley’s partner says it is as though ‘she vanished into thin air’ following 45-year-old’s disappearance

The partner of missing 45-year-old Nicola Bulley has said it is as though “she has vanished into thin air”.

Speaking near the scene where the mother-of-two was last seen, Paul Ansell said he will “never lose hope”, one week after she disappeared.

He also said he kept playing “every scenario” in his head “around and around” and that his focus was on supporting their two daughters.

Ms Bulley, 45, disappeared while walking her dog along a footpath by the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on the morning of Friday 27 January, after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.

Her mobile phone and the lead and harness for her dog, springer spaniel Willow, were found on a bench.

“I don’t know how I am coping. I don’t want to think about that. I am just focused on the girls,” he said.

“Every single scenario comes to a brick wall,” he said.

“It is as though she has vanished into thin air.”

Mr Ansell also thanked the local community for their “amazing” support.

On Thursday her heartbroken sister Louise Cunningham told Sky News “it feels like I’m just stuck in a nightmare”.

In the interview, her family made an emotional appeal to anyone who may have seen her or knows where she is to come forward and speak to police.