Jay Slater fundraiser smashes target and nears £50k

A fundraising effort launched by the family of missing Jay Slater has smashed through its target and is nearing £50,000. On Tuesday morning the GoFundMe page had reached £47,530, with one well-wisher donating £1,000.

It means the effort has smashed through it's £30,000 target, with Jay's mother revealing plans to withdraw some of the cash to fund the rescue efforts and pay for the family's extended stay in Tenerife.

Jay, 19, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, went missing on the holiday island of Tenerife on June 17 after attending the NRG dance festival. Parents Debbie and Warren held talks with Spanish police on Monday after officers had earlier announced they had called off their search.

READ MORE: Jay Slater's mum in talks with Tenerife cops after they call off search for missing son

In an update on the GoFundMe page on June 27, mum Debbie posted: "First, I would like to thank everyone for your support, kind messages, and good wishes. It’s difficult to wrap our heads around what is happening right now, but we are not losing hope that we will find Jay and return home together.

"We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held. I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay. Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses. I'm surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we'll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times. Thank you again for all your donations and support, this means the world to us."

Many donors to the fundraiser left heartfelt messages to the Slater family. Tanya Murphy wrote: "I hope and pray you find your handsome boy soon. I have a daughter a similar age and I just can't stop thinking about you all."

Debbie, who works as a school finance officer, and dad Warren, 58, have vowed to stay in Spain until Jay is found.

Debbie had previously said she believed he may have been kidnapped, but there have been no credible requests for ransom.

Jay had been partying at Papagayo nightclub in Playa Las Americas the night before he vanished. Two older British men drove him 20 miles to their holiday rental in Masca, an 11-hour walk from where he was staying, before he was seen leaving on foot the next morning. Police have said the pair have 'no relevance' to his disappearance.