UPDATE: Nicola Bulley crisis came after she stopped taking HRT say family

11:43 (February) – Missing dog walker Nicola Bulley´s family have said her problems started when she stopped taking HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).

Her parents are convinced that she is still alive and have called on her to come home saying “‘We all need you home. You can reach out to us.

“Don’t be scared, we all love you so very much.”

They added: “Nikki is such a wonderful daughter, sister, partner and mother and is missed dearly – we all need you back in our lives.

“Nikki, we hope you are reading this and know that we love you so much and your girls want a cuddle. We all need you home.

“You can reach out to us, or you can contact MissingPeople.org.uk. Don’t be scared, we all love you so very much.”

Both the family and please have not revealed the details of her “personal crisis” saying that it is a private matter, but they are hopeful that this is what caused her to leave of her own free will and that none of the other hypotheses are correct.

According to the NHS menopause or perimenopause can result in anxiety, low self-esteem and significant mood swings.

09:38 (February) Villagers near where Nicola Bulley went missing have hired private security to protect them from the prying eyes of amateur sleuths.

Residents in St Michael´s on the Wyre have expressed fear with the village swamped by sightseers and amateur sleuths, with at least one having already been arrested for interfering with the investigation.

Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent told Sky News: “People have reported being sat in their living rooms in an afternoon watching television and people coming up to the windows, peering in, trying the doors, it’s been terrifying for them.

“These are typically older people extremely scared in their own homes.

“The residents have had to employ an external security company, that’s just not acceptable.”

The news follows a statement overnight from the family and the police saying that it “has to stop.” They added its not only distressing for the family but also hampering the police investigation.

08:43 (February 17) The Nicola Bulley missing person case is turning into a nightmare for Lancs Police, who have now referred themselves to the police watchdog over their prior contact with her.

Lancs police took the unprecedented step of revealing personal details about the missing woman, some hours after they refused to divulge the details during a press conference sighting respect for her and the family.

A statement issued said: “Nicola previously suffered from significant issues with alcohol” brought on by ongoing struggles with menopause” adding that officers had been called to her home 17 days before her disappearance. That visit was over concerns for her welfare.

The information released by the police is said to be key to the case and to understanding what might´ve happened to her. Officers had been called to her home 17 days before she disappeared due to concerns for her welfare.

It is understood that members of the family knew beforehand that the information would be released, but that has still drawn criticism including from her parents.

They said she would not have wanted this and have called on her to come home, according to the Mirror on Friday, February 17.

A statement issued by the family said: “As a family, we were aware beforehand that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details about our Nikki.

“Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her” adding that it “needs to stop.”

Lancs police have been criticised from all quarters including by local politicians and the home secretary who has demanded answers, despite the explanation from both the family and the police. .

The police have defended their statements saying that amateur sleuths, crank calls and online speculation had made their job very difficult. Charlie Hedges, former head of the Missing Children Unit at the National Crime Agency told the Express that it is “getting out of control.”

He added the attention “will have made life incredibly difficult for the police” as responding to them has meant “taking officers away from other tasks.”

With little evidence to go on and speculation rife the Lancs Police have referred themselves to the police watchdog over the handling of their contact with Nicola Bulley prior to her disappearance.

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