A journalist in Tenerife has spoken out about the ‘desperate’ search for Oswaldtwistle teenager, Jay Slater.

Canarian Weekly editor, Chris Elkington, says mum Debbie Duncan is staying at her apartment as she ‘doesn't want to be the person who finds him’.

Chris also says police are doing everything they can and says amateur search operations and flooding the force with “every comment received on social media” will only “hinder the search operation”.

Today (June 21) police are searching around the village of Masca, which is Jay's last known location.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Chris said: “Police have classed it as a ‘full mobilisiation’ and have pulled out every resource available. The area they are covering is massive.

“The Masca valley and Rural de Teno Park are really big. If you go off the hiking trails it is very dangerous, and very barren and arid.

“It is a huge area with deep valleys and ravines.

The village of Masca, Tenerife, where the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater continues The village of Masca, Tenerife, where the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater continues (Image: James Manning/PA)

“It isn’t the sort of place you go on your own and without water or appropriate clothes. It is very easy to get lost and trip and fall into one of the valleys.”

According to Chris, Debbie is staying at an site towards the south of Tenerife. He says her stay was kindly paid for by the business owners.

Chris said: “Debbie is now staying in her apartment. She says she doesn’t want to go on the search which is quite poignant.

“She said she doesn’t want to find him ‘not alive’.

“Locals and expats have been helping as much as possible, by offering free cars and accommodation.”

Chris also says police are doing everything they can to look for the 19-year-old.

He said: “People have been asked to stay away from the search because they can’t do anything to help and they will only hinder the search operation.

“I appreciate that as [family and friends] you would want to check every inch of the ground.

“There are several police forces here. You can’t expect every police officer over here to know what is going on as there are different divisions and localities.

“[Some things] are starting to have a negative effect locally as people don’t understand the situation over here.

“Let [police] do their job as they know what they are doing.

“They are looking for him as long as they can with all the resources they have. They are doing everything they can.

“There is obvious desperation from the family as they want him back. You have to try and keep a positive and clear head, with a realm of sensibility, instead of shouting from the rooftops about every comment received on social media.

“We live in hope that he will be safe and sound. The longer this goes on in those conditions you do start to fear the worst.”