The mother of missing Jay Slater was told by police during the early hours of the morning that the "best thing to do" is to fly out to Tenerife.

The 19-year-old flew from Lancashire to the Canary Islands for a music festival when he disappeared after he went to stay with people he met during a night out.

During his final call to a friend, the apprentice bricklayer said his phone had only one per cent battery and he did not know where he was.

He told his friend Lucy that he had missed a bus back but was going to make the 11-hour walk back to their resort.

His last known location shows him in "the middle of the mountains" in the Rural de Teno Park - an area popular among hikers.

Slater's step-father has now told of the terrifying moment police knocked on mum Debbie's door less than 24 hours later.

Debbie's partner of 11 years, Andy Watson said officers from Lancashire Constabulary visited their home in Oswaldtwistle during the early hours of the morning.

"It was about 2.30am in the early hours," Watson told LancsLive.

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"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."

Slater's mum flew out to Tenerife from Manchester Airport at 7.05am yesterday morning.

A mass search and rescue operation is now underway in the area where the teenager was last seen.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & 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."

The youngster was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with shorts and trainers.

He was also thought to be carrying a black bag.