Jay Slater missing: Police descend on isolated farm buildings as search ramps up

Investigators searching for clues near the last known location of missing teenager Jay Slater have been spotted removing rubbish from the area. The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, vanished in Tenerife last Monday.

Rescue dogs and firefighters joined police in combing the rugged terrain of Rural de Teno Park in the north west of the island, an area notorious for its challenging landscape and unpredictable weather. Hopes of finding Jay, who disappeared after trying to walk back to his accommodation, have seen helicopters, rescue dogs and drones deployed.

His last sighting was in the village of Masca, where he had spent the night in an Airbnb after attending an NRG music festival. Ofelia Medina Hernandez, the property owner, recalled seeing Jay walk past her place but did not see him again, describing the situation as "worrying".

Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp

Officers, aided by dogs, have been meticulously searching farm buildings and land near the Airbnb where Jay stayed. The search party also paid close attention to the Barranco Madre del Agua river, using sticks to scour through fallen palm trees at the bottom of the ravine.

Jonathan Stones, who relocated to Tenerife at the age of 13, has reportedly described the Teno Nature Reserve as perilous and known locally as 'bad land', reports the Mirror.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Where Jay was last located through his mobile phone is where he stands the least chance of survival. The desolate landscapes around the island's holiday hotspots are referred to as 'malpais' by locals - a word that translates into English as 'bad land'."

He detailed the extreme temperature fluctuations in the area, noting how it can switch from cold to extremely hot by 11am. "With no shade in sight, no water to hand and a deep ravine, the sun becomes an even more fierce adversary," Jonathan continued.

"And the shadowy respite offered by the hilltops is short-lived. The sun moves around the mountain sides quickly and anyone sheltering behind a craggy outcrop is soon flushed from their hide in search of the next one. I hope desperately that it's a riddle solved in time for Jay to be reunited safely with his family."

Trip Advisor reviews also echo the warnings about the hazardous nature of the Teno Nature Reserve. One visitor, under the heading 'dangerous', wrote: "The road is very dangerous, the track goes below cliffs and is very narrow, there is a sign saying that you are entering into a danger zone and if you continue it is your own responsibility. I think for this reason there are not many people here. Complete nature ... wind, waves, sun, mountains and a small lighthouse, incredible."