This is why the police helicopter was circling over Preston and Penwortham last night

The helicopter was deployed at around 9.30pm after Lancashire Police received a concern for welfare report from a family in Penwortham.

The family of the missing teenager took to social media to alert people to their son's disappearance and urged people to report any sightings to police immediately.

They said their son, aged in his late teens, had disappeared at around 7.30pm near the River Ribble, prompting them to report their concerns to police.

The police helicopter - UKP151 - repeatedly circled the skies over Preston Docks, Ashton and Penwortham for around three hours whilst officers on the ground searched the streets.

Fortunately, the young man's mum has since confirmed that her son was found safe in the early hours of this morning.

Lancashire Police said it was unable to comment on its late-night helicopter search.