Nicola Bulley search expert Peter Faulding says area where body found 'not in his remit'

The underwater search expert drafted in to help find missing mum Nicola Bulley has said a body found was discovered in 'reeds at the side of the river which was not part of our remit'.

Peter Faulding, the head of Specialist Group International (SGI), released a detailed statement on Monday morning, almost 24 hours after a body was found in the River Wyre in the Lancashire village of St Michael's on Wyre on Sunday.

Ms Bulley, 45, disappeared while walking her springer spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped her two daughters - aged six and nine - off at school on January 27. Police in Lancashire confirmed on Sunday that a formal identification has yet to be made, but said Ms Bulley's family had been informed of the development.

Mr Faulding, in the statement, said a 'side scan sonar' his team used 'does not penetrate reeds above or below the water'. He said: "Although identification has not been formally confirmed I would like to say my thoughts are with the family and friends of Nicola Bulley at this very difficult time.

"The SGI underwater search team was tasked with searching the river upstream of weir in the non tidal part of the river, past the bench where Nicola’s phone was found and a mile upstream past this point. For three days, using high frequency side scan sonar, we thoroughly search the riverbed and can categorically confirm that Nicola was not laying on the riverbed on the days that we searched."

He said the team searched the stretch of river where the body was found for four hours on the first day, then upstream past a weir over two subsequent days.

"The police underwater search teams and land search teams were searching for three full weeks and were also unable