In a statement issued by Lancashire Police, the family said the public focus "must be on finding her" and not "making up wild theories about her personal life".

They also spoke about her perimenopausal symptoms, after the force revealed yesterday that the mother-of-two had suffered with some "significant issues with alcohol" in the past, brought on by her "ongoing struggles with the menopause".

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had made contact with Lancashire Police to "determine if a referral to the IOPC may be required" after details about the mother's private life were disclosed in a press conference.

The 45-year-old has been missing since 27 January after vanishing when she took her dog for a walk by the River Wyre in Lancashire.

The family said: "We, as a family, believe that the public focus has become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her and Paul's private life.

"As a family, we were aware beforehand that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details about our Nikki. Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop.

"The public focus has to be on finding her and not making up wild theories about her personal life."

The family added that due to the perimenopause, a period around menopause, Ms Bulley suffered with "significant side effects" like brain fog and restless sleep.

They added that she stopped taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is commonly used to manage symptoms of menopause, as it was giving her "intense headaches".

Senior officers said on Wednesday that Ms Bulley was "vulnerable" and classed by police as a "high-risk" missing person immediately after her partner Paul Ansell reported her disappearance.

Lancashire Police has come under criticism for revealing Ms Bulley's struggles with alcohol in a press conference yesterday.

Martyn Underhill, a former detective who was involved in the Sarah Payne case, told Sky News that the force have "completely destroyed" Ms Bulley's reputation adding that he was "confused" by the force's strategy.

The dive specialist who has been helping police in the hunt for Ms Bulley also told Sky News that knowing the missing mum was "high risk" would have "changed our whole search".

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), has said they have made contact with Lancashire Police over information made public in a press conference.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: "Following information that was made public by Lancashire Constabulary yesterday, we have made contact with the force to determine if a referral to the IOPC may be required."

Lancashire Police criticised online sleuths spreading false information about Ms Bulley's disappearance and said rumours are "distracting" officers from investigating the case.