POLICE searching for Nicola Bulley say revealing her "vulnerabilities" was an "unusual" but necessary step.

Tonight Lancashire Police told how the mum-of-two had "in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol".

They added this was brought on by her "ongoing struggles with the menopause" and that these struggles had "resurfaced over recent months".

The issues had led to a police car and health professionals responding to a concern for welfare at the family home in Inskip on January 10.

No one was arrested in relation to the incident, but it is being investigated.

Explaining their decision to disclose the information, Police said: "It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life.

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"But we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.

"We have explained to Nicola’s family why we have released this further information and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

Nicola, 45, disappeared while walking her dog on January 27 in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.

Lancashire Police today confirmed Nicola was treated as a high risk missing person after being made aware of "vulnerabilities" by her partner Paul Ansell.

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Officers said earlier they would not be drawn on what these vulnerabilities were but have now released further information.

But a full statement read tonight: "Nicola’s family continue to be our absolute focus and our thoughts remain with them.

"We have specially trained officers who continue to support them and update them daily.

"We have described how Nicola had some vulnerabilities at the time she went missing and we just wanted to expand on that a little.

"Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months.

"This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family.

"As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10th.

"No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.

"It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.

"We have explained to Nicola’s family why we have released this further information and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

It comes as cops revealed a path Nicola Bulley could have taken if she had left the field where she was last seen.

Lancashire Police today confirmed their "main working hypothesis" remains that she fell in the river.

But they revealed two other theories for her disappearance – Nicola leaving the area voluntarily and third party involvement.

Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said officers are unable to "complete" every step Nicola took as CCTV only covered part of the normal route she made.

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Officers have been “trawling” the area for more footage but parts of the nearby main road are not covered.

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