A YOUNG Southampton climber who disappeared in the night has been named.

Liam Day’s girlfriend is urging friends and family to share his picture as rescue teams scour the Dorset coast.

The 26-year-old failed to return home as expected following a trip to Swanage.

Dorset Police joined HM Coastguard and Dorset Search and Rescue Service to scour the coastline throughout the night.

Both the coastguard and NPAS helicopter have been up this morning to search the coastline around the Swanage area but there has been no trace of the man.

Liam’s car was located in Durlston Road near Durlston Country Park, and some climbing equipment was found one mile west of Anvil Point.

His family have been informed.

The man is described as white, five feet nine inches tall and of slim build. He is bald with a ginger beard and blue eyes.

Chief inspector Bob Acaster, of Dorset Police, said: “The man told his partner he was going climbing for the day but he failed to return home as normal.

"Every indication is that he did indeed go climbing on his own and we are very concerned that he may have come to some harm.

“It is possible that he may have gone deep water climbing which typically involves using a rope to lower down the cliff and then climbing back up unsupported.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the Swanage area yesterday and saw a man climbing the cliffs or in the Durlston Road area to please contact Dorset Police”.

The coastguard said: "Around 1:00 am UK Coastguard were informed by Dorset Police of an overdue climber in the Durlston area of Dorset.

"Coastguard Rescue Teams from Swanage and St Albans, two Swanage RNLI lifeboats and the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter based at Lee on Solent conducted an extensive air, sea and land search of the area and were stood down at around 8am today, pending any further information."

Anyone with information is urged to call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 15:04.