Nicola Bulley's body was identified through dental records, an inquest opened on Wednesday at Lancashire Coroner's Court has heard.

Opening the inquest, senior coroner Dr James Adeley said he had contacted consultant maxillofacial surgeon Ian Edwards to ask him to compare dental records obtained by police from the Great Eccleston dental surgery.

He said: "He examined the body that was located in the River Wyre near Rawcliffe Road in St Michael's on Wyre at 2.15pm on Feb 20."

Dr Adeley said the surgeon found restorative work carried out was identical.

He said: "I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities, and more, that positive identification has been made."

The mother-of-two had been missing for more than three weeks when her body was discovered on the banks of the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road in St Michael’s on Wyre, on Sunday 19 Feb. 

Police were called to reports that two walkers had spotted a body on the edge of the river. 

Lancashire Police confirmed that the body had been formally identified as Ms Bulley's on Monday. 

The Coroner announced that she had been identified through dental records. 

The 45-year-old vanished while walking her brown cocker spaniel after dropping her two daughters off at school on the morning on Friday 27 Jan. 

Ms Bulley’s phone was discovered on a bench by the River Wyre, the dogs harness was found on the grass nearby and the dog was running loose by the river. 

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