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Publisher’s investigations chief vows to clear up Nicola Bulley ‘inaccuracies’

Mark Williams-ThomasA regional publisher’s investigations boss has vowed to clear up “inaccuracies” regarding the Nicola Bulley case as he heads to the scene of her disappearance.

Newsquest investigations editor Mark Williams-Thomas has also criticised police handling of the incident more than two weeks after the 45-year-old disappeared near Saint Michael’s on Wyre, in Lancashire.

Lancashire Police has previously ruled out third-party involvement and is treating the case as a missing person inquiry, but says it is “fully open” to new information about her disappearance.

The force warned amateur sleuths they risk arrest for anti-social behaviour and issued multiple dispersal orders in the Saint Michael’s on Wyre area, while a number of “grossly offensive” online comments about the case are being investigated.

Mark, pictured, posted on Twitter on Sunday: “I will be spending time up in St Michael’s on Wyre next week to pull together a quick turn around report of what exactly is known about the disappearance of Nicola Bulley.

“I will explore all the options, bring you a factual evidence analysis and dismiss some of the inaccuracies.”

Speaking to Mail Online, the former detective added: “This would now be a critical incident being dealt with as suspicious, if it had been down to me. Within 48 hours I would have treated this in the same fashion as a murder or abduction.

“I think police have been right to say they have an open mind – the problem that they have got is that they also said it wasn’t criminal.”

The village of St Michael’s on Wyre is covered by National World sister dailies the Blackpool gazette and the Lancashire Post, and their outgoing editor Nicola Adam also took to Twitter on Sunday to make a statement abou the titles’ coverage of the case.

Nicola said: “I want to make the point that my team and I at the Post and the Gazette here in Lancashire have a responsibility to the community.

“We are keeping missing mum Nicola Bulley front and centre but not running unsubstantiated inquiry lines, gossip or speculation.

“If you have any genuine information please call Lancashire police on 101 or if a sighting 999. They also have a portal on the website to submit information.”