Body of Nicola Bulley identified by dental records, inquest told

Nicola Bulley, 45, was missing for more than three weeks before her body was discovered in the River Wyre (Family Handout/PA)

Nicola Bulley was identified by her dental records, the opening of an inquest into her death has heard.

Preston Coroner’s Court was told police asked maxillofacial surgeon Andrew Ian Edwards to examine the 45-year-old’s dental records, which had been obtained by police from her dental surgery.

Speaking at the opening of the inquest into the mother-of-two’s death, senior coroner Dr James Adeley said: “He examined the body that was located in the River Wyre near Rawcliffe Road in St Michael’s on Wyre at 2.15pm on February 20.”

Dr Adeley said the surgeon found restorative work carried out was identical.

He added: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities, and more, that positive identification has been made.”

Ms Bulley’s body was pulled from the River Wyre in Lancashire on Sunday, more than three weeks after she last seen on January 27.

She had been walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.

In a press conference on Monday, Lancashire Police described the investigation into her disappearance as “hugely complex and highly emotional”.

However, it did not address the widespread criticism it had received for releasing some aspects of Ms Bulley’s private life into the public domain.

Police also did not disclose why it took 23 days to find her body in the river.

Ms Bulley’s family said in a statement on Monday that they can let her “rest now” following the discovery of her remains.