Nicola Bulley was identified using her dental records, the opening of her inquest has heard.

Senior coroner Dr James Adeley, sitting at Lancashire Coroner’s Court, said he had contacted consultant maxillofacial surgeon Ian Edwards to ask him to compare dental records obtained by police.

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 February 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.”

Dr Adeley said remaining evidence gathered by police and the post-mortem examination required “further evaluation” and a full inquest was likely to be held in June.

The 45-year-old’s body was pulled from the river on Sunday, following an intensive three-week search operation.

Ms Bulley was last seen while walking on a footpath by the river with her dog Willow on 27 January.

The springer spaniel was found shortly after, along with Ms Bulley’s mobile phone, which was discovered on a bench beside a steep riverbank. The phone was still connected to a work conference call.

On Monday, Lancashire Police confirmed that the body pulled from the river was Ms Bulley’s.

In a statement read by police, Ms Bulley’s family said: “We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us.

“We will never forget Nikki, how could we, she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that.

“Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most.”

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During the search, police faced criticism over releasing personal details about Ms Bulley, while Ms Bulley’s family questioned the role of the media during the investigation.

Lancashire Police previously released details surrounding Ms Bulley’s struggles with alcohol and the menopause, which drew widespread criticism, including from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

On Tuesday, the media watchdog Ofcom said it had written to Sky News and ITV “to ask them to explain their actions” following comments made by Ms Bulley’s family.

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