Police discover body in warehouse

Dale Crole was planning to visit friends but never arrived

Police investigating the disappearance of an 18-year-old man in September have found a body in a disused warehouse in his home town.

A post mortem examination is to take place after the decomposed remains were found at 1000 GMT on Friday near Coney Beach, Porthcawl.

South Wales Police said it was liaising with Dale Crole's family and was still trying to confirm the body's identity.

There are no suspicious circumstances but police were keeping an "open mind".

Mr Crole has been missing since 25 September after leaving his mother's house in Porthcawl.

He told her he was planning to visit friends in Maesteg.

Det Ch Insp Stuart McKenzie, leading the investigation into his disappearance, said: "We are liaising with Dale's family about this discovery but identification remains an issue.

'Open mind'

"There does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances in relation to the discovery of the body at this stage, but we are keeping an open mind and the area in Porthcawl remains cordoned off while police continue their investigations."

More than 30 officers from South Wales Police were involved in searches for the teenager and a major crime incident room had been set up.

His mother Susan Clark made an appeal for his return just before Christmas.

Police carried out searches of places Mr Crole was known to visit and searched the train line between Bridgend and Maesteg for clues.

They believe Mr Crole intended catching the bus to Bridgend and the train to Maesteg to visit the Oakwood estate but he never arrived.

Police said Mr Crole has a large number of friends and was "well liked" in the community