Specially trained dogs arrive to help Jay Slater search

Specially trained dogs are arriving in Tenerife as the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater enters its ninth day.

Police confirmed to the BBC that new resources had been brought in to help find the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

The Guardia Civil, whose ground searches had concentrated on the area where his last mobile phone signal was traced, said their efforts “are not being scaled back”.

The sniffer dogs, which are specially trained to cover large areas were set to arrive from Madrid later, they said.

The mayor of Santiago de Tiede, where Mr Slater’s father has been putting up posters appealing for information about his son’s disappearance, has expressed his sympathy for the family.

Emilio Navarro said: “As a father, I understand. All our resources and means are being used to find him.”

The apprentice bricklayer was staying at an apartment in the north of the Spanish island with friends he had met at the NRG festival he had attended, but after missing the bus the following morning, he called a friend to tell her he was going to make the 10-hour walk back.

Mr Slater also told her he had 1% battery on his phone, he had “no idea” where he was and needed water.

On Monday, police cars were seen parked at the entrance to a mountain track in the Rural de Teno National Park, close to the location where Mr Slater’s phone last pinged.

Mr Slater’s father has been appealing for help from the local community in Santiago del Teide, where the family went after an unconfirmed report of a possible local sighting.

Warren Slater said somebody “must know something”.

“I just want him to be found. End of,” he added.