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Man who found Nicola Bulley’s phone says he noticed something ‘not right’ at river

The man who found the phone of missing mum Nicola Bulley said he saw something that was “not right” at the river.

Saying only that he’s called Ron, the man explained to Sky News how he saw the wallpaper background on Nicola’s phone showing her and her husband Paul Ansell.

His discovery of the device ultimately led to the police being called on January 27 and Nicola being reported missing.

READ MORE: Nicola Bulley police search caravan site close to bench where phone was found

After finding the phone at around 9.30am, Ron said he gave a full statement to the police.

Speaking to the TV station about Nicola’s disappearance, he said: “Each day something new comes out doesn’t it.”



Ron said he saw something that was ‘not right’

He recognised Nicola’s dog, Willow, but didn’t know the mum of two personally.

“I’d seen both owners of Willow walking this dog in the past, but while I knew their faces I didn’t know their names”.

He said he assumed someone had simply gone to the toilet when he found the unattended mobile.

“I got to about this red brick building here and I thought ‘this is not right’,” he continued.

“Then it was just a progression of things happening, you know. Because of the wallpaper on the phone we found out who the couple were, and the school was contacted and [her partner] Paul arrived.”



Nicola’s phone background showed her and her husband Paul

The search for Nicola continues with authorities understood to be expanding the scope of the operation as clues to her whereabouts continue to evade them.

Dog teams, police, the coast guard and helicopters have all been involved in the search for the missing woman.

The police early on produced a hypothesis that Nicola had fallen into the River Wyre.

They have stuck to this primary suspicion despite it being queried by Nicola’s family, former police officers and the head of the independent rescue outfit Specialist Group International, Peter Faulding.

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