'The search operation has now finished although the case remains open'

POLICE BRING HUNT FOR MISSING TEENAGER JAY SLATER NEAR MOUNTAIN VILLAGE TO A CLOSE

- HELENA VESTY

POLICE have brought an end to their search near a mountain village in Tenerife for missing Jay Slater. Police have however said the case 'remains open, awaiting any further information that may lead to finding Jay.

The Civil Guard yesterday said the near fortnight-long search, which has involved sniffer dogs, a helicopter and mountain rescue experts, had been brought to an end.

They said officers would continue to act on any tip-offs or other information that came in - but the active work that has been ongoing since June 17 when the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer was reported missing would now cease.

Confirmation of the dramatic development came less than 24 hours after a 'last push' operation involving around 30 police, firefighters and Civil Protection along with a handful of volunteers, failed to find any trace of the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire.

A Civil Guard spokeswoman said yesterday: "The search operation has now finished although the case remains open."