Nicola Bulley: ‘Nikki, we can let you rest now,’ say family after body identified as missing mother

The family statement described the agony of dealing with the intense public speculation surrounding Ms Bulley's disappearance.

They added: "These are our lives and our children's lives."

ACC Lawson praised the work of his officers and the help of the residents of St Michael's:

"We recognise the huge impact that Nicola’s disappearance has had on her family and friends, but also on the people of St Michael’s. We would like to thank all of those who have helped during what has been a hugely complex and highly emotional investigation."

The family offered their support for relatives of other missing people and urged them to "keep hope alive" while searching for their loved ones.

"To those who genuinely helped and supported us, privately, we thank you. The community support in St Michael's, friends', neighbours and strangers has been nothing short of comforting and heart-warming. Friends you know who you are. Thank you", the family statement continued. 

ACC Lawson said that family liaison officers had delivered the news to Ms Bulley's "devastated" partner and relatives. 

The statement continued: "It saddens us to think that one day we will have to explain to them that the press and members of the public accused their dad of wrongdoing, misquoted and vilified friends and family. This is absolutely appalling, they have to be held accountable this cannot happen to another family."

A statement from the family is being read out, it began: "We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us. 

"We will never forget Nikki, how could we, she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that."

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said he was able to confirm that the body recovered from the Wyre was that of Nicola Bulley.

The conference is due to get underway at 5.30pm and will be led by Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson.

This morning, Peter Faulding, the head of Specialist Group International which assisted with the search, faced questions over why he insisted the missing mother-of-two was “categorically” not in the river.

In a statement on Monday morning, Mr Faulding hit back at “unfair criticism” and “negativity”.

He said: “Sadly, the discovery was not found in the river but in the reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit as the side scan sonar does not penetrate reeds above or below the water.”

The press conference is set to get underway shortly and, in a notable change to previous briefings, it is being held at Lancashire Constabulary's headquarters. All previous meetings have been held in the local village hall in St Michael's on Wyre.

The briefing comes after two dogwalkers discovered a body in the Wyre just half a mile from where Ms Bulley was last seen.