THE top cop leading the search for missing mum Gaynor Lord has confirmed they called in police who probed the Nicola Bulley case because of the “obvious parallels”.
Mum-of-three Gaynor, 55, vanished last Friday after CCTV showed her smiling as she left work early, then running through the streets of Norwich.
In the hours that followed the mum's belongings were found scattered in Wensum Park and her olive-coloured coat in a river that runs through it.
Top Norwich cop Supt Wes Hornigold has today confirmed to The Sun that Gaynor’s disappearance has similarities to the hunt for Nicola.
He said his force is working with cops that scoured for the Lancashire mum because there are “obvious parallels”.
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Supt Hornigold yesterday said his force was “linking in with” Lancashire detectives to “understand any of the lessons learned” from the search for tragic Nicola.
He told The Sun: “We will absolutely, and have been, linking in with Lancashire Constabulary to understand any of the lessons learned from that inquiry.
“We’ve already had meetings with the National Crime Agency in terms of understanding any specific skills and knowledge in respect to water searching.
“We’re cognisant of the recent College of Policing report into the Lancashire inquiry, so we’re leaving no stone unturned and making sure we’re doing everything within our power to find Gaynor as quickly as possible.”
Nicola, 45, vanished near a river in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27, after dropping her daughters off at school.
She had been walking her dog Willow at the time, and her phone and pet's lead were found on a bench near the River Wyre.
Cops spent weeks searching lands and waterways for the mum using specialist equipment and calling in experts.
Nicola's disappearance captured the hearts of the nation as police begged for people to come forward with information.
The cops said the mum-of-two was "high-risk" because of "personal vulnerabilities".
Tragically, her body was found in the waterway three weeks after she was last seen.
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It comes as...
- Gaynor Lord vanished on Friday after leaving work early
- The mum's clothes are found in ‘various locations’ in park
- Gaynor's daughter pleads: 'We want her home'
- Cops release CCTV of missing mum running along streets
- Mum seen smiling at work moments before she vanished
- Specialist underwater divers join the desperate hunt
- Nicola Bulley cops 'helping' with search efforts
- CCTV shows mum holding mystery white item
- Gaynor 'met someone at cathedral' before she vanished
- Cops have explained why the mum is 'high priority'
- Witness tells of why 'something seemed off' when she saw woman in park
- Stepbrother says disappearance 'proper out-of-character'
Police are continuing to plea anyone with information about Gaynor to come forward, as one of the last people to see her spoke out.
The cops are currently scouring the waterway after saying they believe Gaynor “most likely” entered the River Wensum.
They've also today revealed the mum is classed as a "high-priority" missing person.
Meanwhile, people who knew Gaynor have said she is a "lovely lady".
Stanmore Tennis Club's Simon Valentine said the mum was an "active" member at their club.
He said: "She knew all these areas by the river. I don't think she would have gone there if not.
"She is a lovely lady. We all got on with her.
"She played a lot here in the summer and around Covid time but sometimes didn't always come."
Club secretary Greg Tyler added: "We are all very fond of her here.
"It's all just so odd and I can't figure it out."
Rosie Richards, who lives near Wensum Park, could have been one of the last people to see Gaynor.
'SEEMED A BIT ODD'
She said she thought she saw the mum doing a yoga pose on Friday afternoon at about 4pm.
Rosie said the mum seemed "calm" - but something made her stand out.
She today told Good Morning Britain: "To me, she seemed quite calm.
"She was putting her coat down on the floor and sort of performing a yoga pose.
"It just seemed a bit odd at this time 'cause it's starting to get dark."
Gaynor was last seen on CCTV at 4.01pm on St Augustines Street - which is an eight-minute walk from the park.
Mystery surrounds the mum's disappearance as the search for the mum enters its seventh day.
Police yesterday released CCTV of the last time she was seen - and asked witnesses to come forward with any more information.
They published an image of Gaynor smiling ear-to-ear as she left her workplace - Bullards Gin, at Jarrold’s department store.
'WANT HER HOME'
Then, in a CCTV clip, the mum can be seen running along the pavement with her coat in hand.
She seems to be in a hurry, rushing to cross the road.
The mum seems to spend 30 minutes at the cathedral before she is spotted on CCTV again.
She then makes her way along the street, putting her coat on as she walks.
She is last snapped on CCTV at 4.01pm.
It is now thought the mum may have met someone at the cathedral before she vanished.
Cops are now urging anyone to come forward with information.
It comes after Gaynor's family put out a desperate plea on Tuesday - five days into the search for the mum.
Her daughter Alexandra posted on Facebook: “Please share, if anyone knows anything please do contact the police.
“We want her home.”
