Nicola Bulley inquest: Live updates as two-day hearing into mum-of-two's death takes place in Preston

Based on the length of his dog walk, he saw Nicola between 9.10am and 9.20am and she was looking at her phone screen which he’d seen her do before.

From previous reports, we know this was a work meeting.

After Richard Fife’s statement we move onto Claire Chesham, another member of the public.

Claire Chesham interacted with Nicola at school shortly after 8.30am.

“Nikki walked past and we did the normal smile and nod of the head and as she always did she gave my dog a stroke before carrying on which was very normal behaviour.”

Claire Chesham continues: “She has had them there on previous occasions. But on that day I did not see any evidence of her having one with Willow (her dog).”

She’s now describing seeing Nikki on her dog walk after the school run.

“It was a very quiet morning. I think there was another dog walker but they left the field. I was keeping an eye on the gate because another mum was considering walking down but she didn’t enter and I didn’t see anyone enter.”

Claire Chesham says she left the field at 9.15am.

Waitress Lucie Musella is the next member of the public to give evidence.

She contacted Nicola on January 27 on Facebook Messenger with regards to their kids getting together to play the day after.

Nicola replied to a message trying to set up the play date at 8.59am. It would have taken place on the Saturday afternoon.

Lucie Musella also tells the court Nicola was planning to join some other mums for drinks on Saturday night.

Vilage camp site owner Penny Fletcher is now giving evidence to the hearing via video link.

Penny Fletcher is telling the court about taking her dog for a walk at 9.30am on the morning Nicola disappeared.

She is describing how she found a phone of the bench that became the centre of the investigation as well as a dog harness. On finding Nicola’s dog she also tied Willow to the bench.

“I saw a springer spaniel loose, it was near the bench and going right towards the river where it drops down very steeply. I wouldn’t say it was acting chaotic at all, it was a bit giddy, yes.”

Nicola’s phone was live, according to Penny Fletcher. There was no sound but she could see male faces on the screen.

She had to rush off for an appointment but made several calls about finding Willow. Later on she found it was Nicola’s dog and learned that she’d gone missing.

Penny Fletcher is now confirming that she found Willow’s harness halfway between the bench and the water.

Her evidence, via video, has now concluded.

Susan Jones is now giving evidence at County Hall. She received a call from Penny Fletcher after she found Willow, Nicola Bulley’s dog. The call was made at around 10am.

Susan Jones is descrbing how she arrived at the scene and found the phone, now locked, and Willow tied up, as Penny had described.

She then bumped into Anne-Marie, Penny’s daughter-in-law, who attempted to contact the family via the school having recognised Nicola, Paul and the children on the phone lock screen.

When Paul, Nicola’s partner, arrived, she handed the phone over and he was able to unlock it.

Susan’s husband Roger is now taking over.

Roger Jones took his dog for his walk at around 9.45am. He found Willow tied up and only found out what was going on when he called his wife.

Roger Jones has clarified a couple of points but his brief bit of evidence is wrapped up as Dr Adeley establishes the course of events that morning.

Nurse Helen O’Neill will now answer questions for Dr Adeley. She is another person who was dropping her children off at school and knew Nicola Bulley.