A TEENAGER who vanished after a beach party on the Suffolk coast was still missing early this morning – with fears over his welfare heightening by the hour.

A TEENAGER who vanished after a beach party on the Suffolk coast was still missing early this morning – with fears over his welfare heightening by the hour.

Rory Unwin Rose has not been seen since early yesterday when he left a group of friends at Walberswick, near Southwold, wearing only his swimming shorts.

The 15-year-old from Cretingham, near Framlingham, was reported missing just before 1pm when his friends failed to find him. A major land and sea search was launched, but it had not managed to locate him last night.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: "We are still making inquiries. Obviously as time goes on it becomes more concerning."

Rory, who is believed to be a Woodbridge School pupil, had gone to the party on Wednesday night and was last seen on the beach, near to where a new walkway has been put in, at 4am yesterday.

A major operation involving police, coastguards, lifeboat crews and the Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue team is continuing in a bid to find him.