Nicola Bulley’s partner has spoken out publicly for the first time since the mum-of-two went missing.
Ms Bulley, 45, a mortgage adviser from Inskip, Lancashire, passed out while walking her dog after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school last Friday morning.
Paul Ansell said: “We’re never going to lose hope, but at the moment it’s like she just disappears, it’s just crazy.
“I can’t believe we’re a week later and yet it seems like we’re no further ahead, it seems impossible. It’s like a dream, I can’t wrap my head around it.”
Speaking near the scene where the mother-of-two was last seen, Mr Ansell told broadcasters: “My whole focus is my two girls, staying as strong as I can for them.
“I’m afraid if I focus on anything else it will take my focus away from that.
“Just hoping for the best that anything comes out of yesterday’s interview no matter how small it is.”
On Friday morning, members of the public stood by the side of the road with signs bearing Ms Bulley’s photograph urging people to contact the police with information.
Mr Ansell said the community’s support had given the family “a lot of comfort”.
A potential witness, a dog walker, who was found following a police appeal on Thursday, is said to have spoken to officers and “doesn’t know anything”.
Christine Bowman, 67, told the Daily Mirror: “It scared local women. If they have a husband or a partner, they are taking the dogs out instead.”
Lancashire Police, which launched a massive search operation, said people should not “predict or spread false rumours” about the event despite “unanswered questions”.
Ms Bulley’s mobile phone and the lead and harness for her dog, springer spaniel Willow, were found on a bench near the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre in rural Lancashire.
Miss Bulley’s family have appealed for information.
Her sister, Louise Cunningham, told Sky News: “Something must be lost. Someone must know something.
“People don’t just disappear into thin air.”
Her tearful father Ernie Bulley said Miss Bulley’s young daughters still believe it is only a matter of time before their mother comes home.
He told Sky: “There are two young children there waiting for their mum to come back and of course we want her back too, but if Nicola is out there, if she’s watching this, what we want to say is : ‘Come home, contact the police, contact us and all you want is you back.’
“And they know mom is missing but they know she’s coming home and everybody’s looking for her, so it’s just a matter of time, they’re thinking in their minds that she’ll be walking through that door.”
Police divers using special equipment were seen searching the River Wyre below where Ms Bulley’s belongings were found on the bench.
Mrs Bulley and her family are originally from Essex but moved to Lancashire around 25 years ago.
Lancashire Police have said they do not believe a crime has been committed and are treating the incident as a missing person’s investigation.