Nicola Bulley: Missing mother's partner says she's vanished into thin ...

Image source, Police handout

Nicola Bulley has not been seen for a week

Nicola Bulley's partner has said he was focusing on "staying as strong as I can" for their two daughters, a week after her disappearance.

The 45-year-old was last seen on a riverside dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, on 27 January.

A major search for Ms Bulley has been continuing, but no trace of her has been found.

Paul Ansell said: "We're never going to lose hope, but it is as though she has vanished into thin air... just insane."

He said he "cannot get his head around" his partner's disappearance, adding: "Every single scenario comes to a brick wall. Every single one of them.

"All we are doing is sitting there going round and round and round, through each scenario."

Mr Ansell, 44, said he was focusing on looking after their two daughters and "didn't want to think" about how he was coping.

Watch: "It just seems absolutely impossible', says Nicola's partner, Paul

Thanking friends and the wider community, Mr Ansell added: "The only thing that we can take (from the situation) is that the level of support is out of this world.

"It gives us a great amount of comfort knowing that that's going on, we don't have anything else.

"We're never going to lose hope, but it is as though she has vanished into thin air. It's just insane."

Ms Bulley's friend Emma White described her as "the most beautiful person" and "the kindest soul - she's thoughtful, she's caring.

"And then you add her and Paul together, add a little bit of magic, and they've created these two beautiful humans who just want to know where their mummy is.

"Anybody with any information to help these guys - we just need something. It's not making sense, we've got no information."

Image source, PA Media

Neighbours and friends are desperate to help

Neighbours and friends are holding banners by the road in the village in the hope it will catch the attention of anyone who may have seen something.

Luke Sumner said: "We're going to do absolutely everything possible to find some information as to where Nicola has gone.

"The community spirit has been absolutely phenomenal."

Police were alerted to Ms Bulley's disappearance when her spaniel, Willow, was found running loose off Garstang Road about 25 minutes after she was last seen by another dog walker.

Ms Bulley's phone was later found on a riverside bench, still connected to a work call.

A harness and lead for her springer spaniel, Willow, was also discovered on the bench.

Police said officers were keeping an "open mind" about what had happened, but did not believe Ms Bulley had been attacked.

Image source, Police handout

Nicola Bulley was walking her dog Willow when she disappeared

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