Sam Hancock
Live reporter

We're going to leave our live coverage of Nicola Bulley now - thanks for joining us.

After the mother-of-two first went missing on 27 January - and her body was eventually found less than a month later in the River Wyre - a coroner has found that she died by drowning and her death was accidental.

If you want to keep reading about what happened today, and what we learnt, head to our main news story here.

Otherwise, this page was written by Emily Atkinson, Charley Adams and Andre Rhoden-Paul. It was edited by me.

Nicola Bulley's family have said "it's upsetting that we've continued to receive negative targeted messages", after an inquest found her death was accidental.

Their solicitor Terry Wilcox, reading a statement outside Preston Coroners' Court, called for people "to be mindful of the impact words bring".

As we've been reporting, Bulley's disappearance earlier this year attracted wide public interest - including from amateur sleuths on social media.

Image source, PA Media

Throughout the inquest into Nicola Bulley's death, extra security was put in place due to the high level of social media interest in the case.

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, said the police and county council had been making additional security provisions for the hearing at County Hall.

"This is to ensure the safety of everyone attending the inquest," he told reporters. He also warned attendees not to disrupt proceedings, following “unusual online commentary” about Bulley’s death.

In their statement, which we heard a little earlier, the Bulley family said they were continuing to receive "targeted and negative" messages online.

We've finished hearing from the Bulley family's solicitor, who was reading out a statement on behalf of Nicola Bulley's loved ones. If you're just joining us, here's what was said:

• Solicitor Terry Wilcox said the last few months had been "extremely tough to process" and that "Nicky" would never be forgotten
• He thanked family, friends and strangers from across the world, adding that Bulley's two daughters would one day read all the cards they'd been sent
• But he also raised the issue of social media, saying the family were continuing to receive "negative and targeted messages" and asked people to consider the impact of their words
• Lancashire Police's Det Ch Supt Pauline Stables, who also spoke, paid tribute to the Bulley family and said she hoped the verdict would put an end to "ill-informed speculation that's been so damaging"
• She finished by insisting that the family be given the space and time they need to heal

More now from Det Ch Supt Pauline Stables.

She said Bulley will be remembered for "clearly being a much loved partner, mum, sister and friend".

She asks that family's privacy is respected and they are allowed "the time and space to rebuild and to heal".

Image source, Family handout via PA Media

Det Ch Supt Pauline Stables of Lancashire Police also spoke outside Preston Coroner's Court.

She says her force wants to pay tribute to the family and hopes the conclusion of the inquest brings them some peace. She thanks the coroner.

She adds she hopes the "clear and definitive findings will put an end to ill-informed speculation and conspiracy theories which have been so damaging to Nikki's family and the community".

The family's solicitor continues by saying the family will need time.

They are asking for time to comprehend what has been concluded by the coroner today and what has happened over the past few months, Terry Wilcox tells reporters.

Nicola Bulley's family say they need to raise again the issue of social media, following a frenzy of online speculation after her disappearance.

Reading a statement on behalf of the family, their solicitor Terry Wilcox said it was "upsetting that we continue to receive negative and targeted messages and that we continue to receive wildly inaccurate speculation being shared on numerous platforms".

"We encourage people to look for the facts being heard during the inquest and the conclusion reached by the coroner," the family say.

The family also urged the public to avoid "any amateur views and be mindful of the impact that words bring."

Terry Wilcox continues to read the statement in which they thank family, friends and strangers across the world.

"Thank you," he said.

He added Nicola Bulley's two daughters will one day read all the cards they've been sent.

Solicitor Terry Wilcox says the last few months have been extremely tough to process and the emotional impact will stay long in the family's hearts.

We will never forget the loss of Nicky, he says, adding that she will be remembered as a brilliant mum, partner, daughter, and sister.

We're hearing now from Terry Wilcox who is the Bulley family's solicitor.

We're expecting to hear from the Bulley family's solicitor, Terry Wilcox, any moment now. He'll be reading a statement.

We'll bring you live updates here, of course, but feel free to watch it live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page too.

Image source, PA Media

In case you can't remember this case, or need a refresher, here's what happened to Nicola Bulley.

• After dropping her daughters at school on 27 January, the mother-of-two vanished while on her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in the village of St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire
• Her disappearance sparked a large missing person police search and attracted wide interest from the media and public, including from social media sleuths
• Her body was eventually found in the river on 19 February, around a mile downstream from a bench her phone was left on
• Both the police and media faced criticism over the case - while Bulley was missing, Lancashire Police revealed Bulley had previously struggled with alcohol and perimenomenopause
• An independent review of Lancashire Police's handling of the case was eventually ordered by the College of Policing

A bit more from the coroner now, who ruled that Nicola Bulley died an accidental death.

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, said the mother-of-two died of drowning almost immediately.

The inquest found her death was not a result of suicide since there was no indication of any desire to take her own life.

Dr Adeley noted it would be unusual for her to consider suicide and risk leaving her dog, Willow, who was found the morning she disappeared by a passer by.

He also considered it unusual that she would choose to enter the river where passers-by may see or help her had that been her motive.

Findings will hopefully put an end to commotion and liespublished at 14:52 BST 27 June 2023

14:52 BST 27 June 2023

Danny Savage
North of England correspondent

Nicola Bulley’s death was an accident. In the three weeks between her disappearing on a walk and her body being found, her friends and family desperately appealed for information while social media was filled with wild theories.

The truth is that nobody else was involved in her death. At about 09:22 on the 27 January this year she fell into the River Wyre and died almost immediately. Cold water immersion shock quickly overwhelmed her.

Her sister and partner tearfully gave evidence about how normal her life was and the myriad of plans she had for the future with her family.

The commotion surrounding her disappearance probably says far more about some corners of social media than many of us should be comfortable with.

It’s left her family fighting a rearguard action to stamp out lies. This inquest will hopefully put all that to bed.

In the last few minutes, a coroner has ruled that Nicola Bulley drowned after falling into cold water.

Her death has also been recorded as accidental, Dr James Adeley, a senior coroner for Lancashire, says.

The 45-year-old mother-of-two vanished on a dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, on 27 January.

Her body was found in the river more than three weeks later, a mile away from where she went missing.

Stay with us for live updates and reaction to the inquest's findings.