Vigil to be held for missing boy's 15th birthday

A vigil will be held later to mark the 15th birthday of a teenager who has been missing for almost three weeks.

Taylor Charlton was last seen in the Tesco Extra car park on Station Road, Barnstaple, Devon, at about 22:30 BST on 8 May.

Family and friends posted a message on a Facebook group saying there would be a gathering at the town's Rock Park at 18:30 to mark his birthday before a community search operation takes place an hour later.

Devon and Cornwall Police said anyone who had information about the whereabouts of Charlton, described as 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall, of muscular build, with dark brown hair and a moustache, should contact the force.

The Facebook post urged people to keep searching for Charlton.

"Today is Taylor's 15th birthday - he isn't spending it at home with his family," it added.

"He isn't waking up to presents, he isn't waking up to the upmost love and kindess."

Police previously said they had conducted "rigorous and methodical" searches of the River Taw and its estuary.

The force added shoes believed to belong to the teenager were found 450m (1476ft) apart on consecutive days on the high tide line on the riverbank between Sticklepath and Bickington.

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