The best friend of missing Basildon woman Nicola Ray has told how she has almost lost hope she is still alive.

Mother-of-two Nicola, 29, vanished more than ten months ago - just three weeks before she was due to wed her live-in partner Mr Barnes.

Blonde Nicola was last seen on May 2 last year after enjoying a few drinks with her pal, Loretta Kenny, at the Moon on the Square pub in Basildon.

Loretta, 43, of Devlins, Basildon, said: "I have prayed that every knock on my door and every telephone call I have received since then is Nicola calling to say she is all right.

"But as the months have passed my hope has faded of ever seeing her again. It is really awful to think she might be lying dead somewhere but the thought of something dreadful happening to her cannot be put out of my mind."

Nicola disappeared after leaving Loretta's house to walk less than half a mile home. Nicola's two girls - Joedy, 11, and Stevie, seven - have not heard anything since their mum went missing and her bank account has not been touched, leaving Loretta to think the worst.

She said: "Nicola has missed Joedy's birthday and spending Christmas with her children. She loved her kids and it would take something serious for her not to contact them."

However, her friend said there were no warning signs anything drastic was about to happen.

A man arrested on suspicion of murdering his fiancee has been released by police without charge.

Timothy Barnes, 38, was quizzed in connection with the disappearance of Basildon woman Nicola Ray. Police also carried out a search of the house he shared with Nicola, in Voysey Gardens, Basildon, but this revealed no significant discovery.

A police spokesman said that there were no bail conditions and Mr Barnes will appear again at Rayleigh police station on April 14

He refused to comment on his arrest at his home last night (Tuesday).

Fears - Loretta Kenny awaits a call from pal Nicola Ray

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