SEARCH teams have been combing Swanage and the surrounding area as concerns grow for the welfare of a local man who disappeared at the weekend.

Jesse Jones, a 24-year-old university graduate from Burlington Road, was last seen drinking with friends at the town’s East Bar in the early hours of Sunday morning.

However, his worried father Derek has since been contacted by a witness who says she saw Jesse sprawled on the ground in Swanage town centre around 2am.

Derek said: “Five minutes before this lady said she saw Jesse laying on the pavement, a friend had received a text from him saying he was going home because he had work the next day.

“He isn’t the sort of person to not let us know where he is going. At first we just thought he’d been out with friends, probably had a little too much too drink and was sleeping at one of their homes.

“But we are really worried now – he’s got to be somewhere. This woman says she is sure it was Jesse laying on the ground and that he picked himself up and staggered off.”

On a Facebook group set up to help find Jesse, several people have come forward to say the person lying on the ground was not him, although it has not been officially ruled out.

Almost 400 people have signed up to the group, called Please help search for Jesse Jones.

Jesse, a graduate from Kings College London did not turn up for work at Ulwell Caravan Park. He has made no contact with friends of family.

Inspector Roger Robinson, of Dorset Police, said: “Jesse has been very upset recently and those close to him fear he may come to some harm.

“If anyone has seen Jesse, or knows of his whereabouts, then please contact us urgently.

“I would ask Jesse to please contact his family so that they can be sure that he is safe and well.”

Contact Dorset Police on 01202 222 222.