Mum of missing Jay Slater woken by police who told her 'you best go to Tenerife'

The step-dad of missing teen Jay Slater, who vanished in Tenerife, has opened up on the moment police knocked on their door at 2am and suggested they fly out to the island in Spain.

Earlier this month, 19-year-old Jay travelled to Tenerife alongside pals Lucy and Brad to attend a music festival, reports Manchester Evening News.

On Sunday night the teen, an apprentice bricklayer, decided to stay out after meeting some new friends while his pals went back to their apartment, LancsLive reports.

The following day, at around 8.15am, Lucy received a call from Jay in which he said he had missed a bus back but was going to make the 11-hour walk back to their resort.

Jay told Lucy his phone only had one per cent left and his mobile died with his last known location showing him in 'the middle of the mountains'.

Less than a day later, officers from Lancashire Constabulary were knocking on his mum Debbie's home, in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

Debbie's partner of 11 years, Andy Watson, described the moment police knocked on the door and informed them Jay was missing.

"It was about 2.30am in the early hours," Andy, 63, said. "When the police said 'the best thing you can do is get yourself out there' we knew it was bad. This was his first holiday on his own. I'm just hoping he's gone to another party."

Jay's mum Debbie rushed to Tenerife from Manchester Airport at 7.05am on Tuesday morning (June 18). She is understood to have landed at around 11.35am.

"She said she'll make contact with the consular office and then ring me but I've not heard anything yet," Andy said.

A huge search and rescue operation is now underway in the area where Jay was last seen. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities."

Jay was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers. He was also believed to be carrying a black bag.

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