Jay Slater's family share plans for own search in 'big boost' for parents

Jay Slater's family have shared their own plans to continue the search for the missing teenager by raising funds back in the UK. Official searches for the apprentice bricklayer ended nearly a week ago as police said they would stop looking.

Jay, 19, vanished on June 17 and his disappearance sparked a huge search by Spanish authorities on the island of Tenerife. His family have pledged to keep searching, and reportedly believe that Brits who have flown to the island could be key to finding Jay.

A source close to the family told The Sun that there are plans for events in Jay's hometown of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, to help raise money to make sure the search can continue for as long as possible. Speaking to the publication, a source close to the family said friends are "hoping to go further and try to raise money in any way they can".

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They said: "Some of his pals are discussing holding events to get funds together to keep the search alive for him. There are a lot of people who are coming forward saying they’d like to be involved and his pals are also planning to speak to local businesses, like pubs, and shops to see if they can help support them in any way.

"It will be big boost for Jay’s parents. They are determined to keep boots on the ground in Tenerife for as long as possible now that the police have officially ended their search."

Debbie Duncan, Jay's mother, earlier issued a fresh statement on the GoFundMe page set up to bring her son home. Speaking in an update posted to the page: “I feel the need to post this to your group and then I shall remove myself. I joined this group to share the positivity and love from the British public. It seems through no fault of my own you have all decided to make up your own minds. It is really sad I have felt the need to do this. My beautiful son Jay is still missing and believe me this is no holiday."

She said: “He came on his first holiday to Tenerife to attend the NRG music event. What mystery surrounding his disappearance may never surface. We as a family are truly devastated. I did not ask for publicity from the start and was not aware that the first missing poster had my telephone number on it. It should have had the SOS Guardia Civil but like I say this was out of my control.

Whatever decision you have in your minds I cannot control this either. We are a normal working family from Lancashire going through hell. I would like to thank the genuine people for their love and support at this difficult time and to continue to pray for Jay to be found.”

She went on: “For those of you who are more concerned around the Gofundme page I can assure you that up to now it has not been used and our stay up to now has been financed by ourselves. I do have proof of transactions and transfers to other persons but I should not have to justify this. So you can make up your own minds."If any of you in this group have donated. I am thankful for the other mothers out there. Please continue to pray." Debbie - who is out in the Canary Islands with Jay's dad Warren as they search for the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer - went on and said: "Thank you."