Jay Slater's mum issues update on purpose of £36k GoFundMe money as she plans to withdraw funds

Jay Slater's mum has issued an update on the purpose of the £36k GoFundMe amount as she plans to withdraws the funds.

The Lancashire teenager, 19, has been missing since going out with friends in Tenerife with his friends earlier this month.

After attending the New Rave Generation festival, Jay decided to stay out with a group of people he had just met on Sunday (16 June) evening.

On Monday (17 June) morning, he called his friend and told them he was in the middle of a mountainous area having missed a bus back to the resort.

Jay has now been missing for over a week.

Jay Slater was last seen in Tenerife. (Family Handout)

Taking to the GoFundMe page today (27 June), his mum Debbie Duncan provided an update on her plans to 'withdraw part of the (£36,250) funds'.

She wrote: "First, I would like to thank everyone for your support, kind messages, and good wishes.

"It’s difficult to wrap our heads around what is happening right now, but we are not losing hope that we will find Jay and return home together.

"We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held.

"I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay.

"Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses.

"I'm surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we'll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times.

"Thank you again for all your donations and support, this means the world to us."

The final Snapchat Jay is believed to have posted. (Snapchat)

Before being reported as missing, Jay called his friend Lucy Law, who told Sky News that he had 'cut his leg on a cactus and had no idea where he was'.

She said that he told her that his phone was on one percent battery.

Lucy also said that Jay stayed out with people he met on Sunday night who were renting a holiday home apartment 'miles away from civilisation and in a very secluded location'.

This comes after a local woman from Tenerife telling the Mirror that police have spoken to both of the men he was with, as someone claimed they saw Jay 'walking alone'.

She said: "I never saw the missing boy, but I know people saw him walking on his own. I saw the two British men who stayed here.

"They came in for cafe con leche a couple of times. One was aged about 40. The other one was slightly younger.

"The police have spoken to them both [the British men]. They arrived on Saturday and were due to stay until Monday, but they left on Tuesday."