A SEARCH of the River Severn has been carried out for a missing teenager who only arrived in the city to start university last weekend.

Police say it is totally out of character for Thomas Jones to go missing, and desperate family and friends have been posting on social media to ask people to help find the teenager.

The 18-year-old was last seen close to the river at Worcester Racecourse at around 3am on Wednesday morning after leaving Worcester city centre.

Mr Jones, who is white, 5ft 5ins, slim, with short mousy brown hair and grey and green coloured eyes, was wearing pale coloured jeans, a navy blue woollen zip-up Lacoste top and green shoes when he went missing.

Appeals have been widely shared to help the teenager, who is from Bromsgrove and a former South Bromsgrove High School pupil.

His dad, Ian, wrote on Facebook: "Please help our 18 year old son Tom Jones has gone missing in Worcester.

"If you see or now his whereabouts please get in touch."

There has been a large police presence throughout the day searching both sides of the river, Worcester Racecourse, and the riverbank.

Detective Inspector Tony Garner said: "Thomas hasn't been seen or heard from since the early hours of Wednesday morning and given that he was last seen close to the river, we are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare.

"This is extremely out of character for Thomas and he is new to the area, having only moved to Worcester on Sunday to commence university."

It has been freshers week, with new students arriving at the University of Worcester ahead of the academic year.

A University of Worcester spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned for the whereabouts of one of our students and would urge the public and fellow students to contact police if they have any information.

“The university’s security staff have been assisting the police in their search. We are in contact with the family and offering support to fellow students.

“The university takes the safety of all of its students very seriously and, along with the Students’ Union, works closely with bars, nightclubs and taxi firms in the city to help our students to have an enjoyable and safe start to the new academic year.”

Anyone with information on his whereabouts or who wishes to report on potential sightings is asked to call 101, quoting 431s.