Nicola Bulley – latest: Dog walker suffered ‘brain fog’ as PM ‘concerned’ about police details

In a statement released by the devastated family on Thursday, they said the mum-of-two was struggling with peri menopause which caused certain side effects.

They said: “Due to the peri menopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis.”

Nicola Bulley’s disappearance continues to confound police and public three weeks after the mortgage broker vanished in Lancashire.

Neighbours of Nicola Bulley have had to beef up their security because amateur detectives are snooping into people’s homes.

Lancashire Police has repeatedly asked people outside of the village of Saint Michael’s on Wyre not to visit to conduct their own searches after the 45-year-old mother disappeared on January 27.

But Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent said villagers, particularly older residents, have been left “terrified” as vigilantes complete DIY probes. He said that they had even resorted to employing private security firms in a bid to protect their privacy.

William Mata reports:

Images capture police search teams on the banks of the River Wyre in Hambleton, Lancashire, as officers continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley.

We take a look at a timeline of the case as the search continues:

Police searching for missing mother Nicola Bulley have hit out at “ill-informed speculation” they say has distracted detectives.

In a bid to address intense online speculation around the dog walker’s mystery disappearance – and criticism of the investigation – Lancashire Police held a press conference on Wednesday to shed light on “exactly we have done over the last 19 days”.

Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her springer spaniel, Willow, in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre after she dropped her two daughters – aged six and nine – at school on 27 January.

Here’s a rundown of 11 key things we learned from the latest police update:

Nicola Bulley‘s parents have left a yellow ribbon tied to the bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, where their daughter vanished.

Among other ribbons left by friends and well-wishers, the message from Ernest, 73, and Dot Bulley, 72, read: “We pray every day for you. Love you, Mum + Dad XXX.”

A second ribbon, believed to be from Ms Bulley‘s sister, Louise Cunningham, read: “Nikki please come home. I love you. Lou XXX”.

It doesn’t matter what the crime is – if a woman is a victim, she’s bound to be responsible for her own downfall, Charlotte Proudman writes.