Divers join large-scale search for missing Stornoway teenager

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Police Scotland Aleksandr is smiling at the camera. There is a white concrete block wall behind him.Police Scotland

Aleksandr Benga has been missing for a week

Divers are due to join a large-scale search for a teenager who went missing in freezing weather on the Isle of Lewis last week.

Aleksandr Benga, 16, was last seen near a water wheel in the grounds of Stornoway’s Lews Castle at about 08:45 on Monday 18 November.

A search was launched and has so far involved 50 people including specialist police officers and mountain rescue volunteers, as well as search and rescue dogs.

Police have also been stopping drivers to ask if they have seen the teenager.

A police car is parked in a small layby on a busy road. There are cars, vans and a lorry with their lights on on the road up ahead.

Police stopped drivers on Monday morning

The police officer, who is wearing a police hat, fluorescent green jacket and a pair of glasses, speaks while standing near a mossy, stone wall and line of trees.

Area commander Jane MacKenzie said it was hoped the teenager had sought shelter from bad weather

Area commander Jane MacKenzie appealed to the public to check dashcam footage and private CCTV for any images of Aleksandr.

She told BBC Naidheachdan: “We are very concerned for Aleksandr given the weather conditions over the last week, especially out in the open.

“Hopefully he has sought shelter somewhere.”

A search is being made of a wide area, and includes sheilings – which are small shelters crofters used in summer while tending livestock.

A police officer stands near the cab of a fuel tanker. It is raining and the road is wet.

Sightings of Aleksandr were sought from drivers

Specialist search officers from Aberdeen and Inverness joined the effort last week.

Hebrides, Dundonnell and Assynt mountain rescue teams and Search and Rescue Dogs Association Scotland have also been involved.

Divers are due to carry out searches of areas of water around Lews Castle, a 19th Century property now run as a tourist destination.

The teenager is described as 6ft 2ins tall, of slim build with short brown hair.

When he was last seen he was wearing a beige jumper and black jeans. He may also have a red jacket and a yellow beanie hat.

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