Nicola Bulley has been referred to in an "offensive" voicemail received by a parish councillor in Lancashire. The message was left in the early hours of the morning on Saturday February 11.
Nuisance calls were made to five of the six members of Inskip with Sowerby Parish Council during a period of just over two hours, the Mirror reports. However, all but one simply rang off as they answered, it was claimed.
The 45-year-old mother-of-two has not been seen since January 27 when she took her dog for a walk in St Michaels on Wyre, just a couple of miles away from her home in Inskip. The search for the missing woman continues along the River Wyre down to Morecambe Bay.
READ MORE: Expert says Nicola Bulley case could be solved with help from armchair detectives
A source close to the council said a series of "mystery phone calls" were made between 12.45am and 3am. They said that a voicemail, which is now in the hands of the police, was received by one of the councillors during this period.
They did not go into the specifics of the voicemail's content but said that Nicola was referenced in it. Describing the message, the source said: "Offensive, I wouldn’t say it was abusive, I would say it was offensive."
"I believe the police have identified the offender," they added, branding them as "just some nutter". Asked if the councillor who received the call was left shaken, they said: "No, we're not soft."
The councillors' phone numbers have subsequently been pulled from the council's website. Contact details for parish and town council members are also no longer listed on Wyre Borough Council's website following the incident, it confirmed.
Garry Payne, Chief Executive of Wyre Council, said: "Everyone is deeply saddened by the ongoing Nicola Bulley case and our thoughts are with the family and friends. We are supporting Lancashire Police where required and we urge everyone to remain respectful at this time."
READ MORE: New details emerge about 'suspicious' duo seen near river in Nicola Bulley search
Cllr Michael Vincent, Leader of Wyre Council said: "We appreciate the emotional gravity of the situation. However we will not tolerate any form of abuse of any of our Elected Members of Wyre Borough Council or any of the town and parish councils within our borders or our staff.
"The community has shown great strength and resilience during the investigation and we urge everyone to continue to show compassion and empathy. It is a shame that we have had to take this step at such a difficult time and appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that residents are still able to contact their elected representatives."
Wyre Council has said it will log any reports of abuse and forward them to police. Asked about the matter, a Lancashire Police spokesman said: "We are aware and it is being looked into."
READ NEXT:
- The shameless drug dealer with '14,000 contacts' on his Nokia mobile
- 'Bubbly' and 'determined' woman took her own life by ingesting a poisonous substance
- Residents left perplexed after mysterious orange marks appear on trees in their neighbourhood
- Woman threatened to stab Uber driver with dirty syringe - before telling 'pack of lies' about him owing her cash for sex
- Alleged murderers met in pub days before Thomas Campbell was 'tortured to death', jury told
