Peter Faulding, a world-renowned forensics expert who is a diver for the police and has worked on hundreds of cases across the south-east, made a direct offer to Lancashire Police and later confirmed it had been taken up.
An earlier statement from his private search and rescue organisation Specialist Group International (SGI) said: 'Following my public message to Lancashire Police offering the services of the SGI underwater search team and our vast range of specialist equipment free of charge to assist in the search for Nicola Bulley, I was subsequently contacted directly by the grieving family pleading for a way to make this happen.
'Unfortunately, Lancashire police have responded via the family declining my offer saying they will continue with their own river searches using their current resources let us know if we are required.'
But it was later confirmed that the force would now be utilising the specialist divers in the search, as Mr Faulding tweeted: 'We have just heard from the family of Nicola Bulley to confirm that the underwater search team from SGI will be deployed to assist @LancsPolice in the search.'...<<<Read More>>>...