by Dan Bloom

The family of a teenage soldier who vanished on a night out say
they just want him home.

Fears are mounting for the safety of Josh Thomas, 18, who was
last seen on CCTV at a traffic island next to Rochester Bridge just
before 1am last Wednesday.

Police say the group from the Royal Engineers, based at Brompton
Barracks, had been drinking heavily and they are pleading for
anyone who saw him to come forward.

The teenager's dad Gary, who lives near Neath, South Wales,
spoke to Josh hours before he disappeared as he had passed his City
& Guilds electrical exam.

"They went out to celebrate because they did so well in their
exams," he said.

"He had got his kit ready for the following morning. I am
thankful I did speak to him before he went out.

"They were in great spirits. He seemed cheerful and very happy
like he always is.

"All his officers I have spoken to said he is well-liked and is
doing well in his exams and is aiming for good things. He was
looking forward to going to Germany on tour in the summer."

He added: "The family have been overwhelmed with the amount of
support we have had.

"Because it has happened so far away we are thankful we are
getting the support we are getting around here. Everyone who knows
him loves him."

Josh's aunt Bev Bowman added: "He is a loving, caring boy and we
just want him home."

Insp Ada Leppard appeals
for information about missing soldier Josh Thomas next to Rochester
Bridge where witnesses are being sought

Police have detailed Josh's last known movements in a desperate
bid to trace him.

He and friends visited the City Wall bar in Rochester High
Street on Tuesday night, staying until the early hours of
Wednesday.

Josh left the bar, sat outside on a bench with a friend and then
walked onto Rochester Bridge a few hundred yards away.

Insp Ada Leppard, of Kent Police, said: "He got a little way
across, fell over then a member of the public stopped in a vehicle
and we'd love that person to come forward.

"On CCTV the black hatchback goes past Josh, then reverses up
and I believe a conversation took place.

"Mum and dad, Gary and Violet, are aware Josh was seen to be
very drunk.

"He's weaving all over the place when he's walking so he'd have
been very noticeable and I'd say the member of the public was
stopping out of concern."

Josh was
then seen just before 1am walking back off Rochester Bridge the way
he came.

The last CCTV image is of Josh on a traffic island in the middle
of the A2 outside the Crown pub - then he vanished.

Parents of the teen's friends have put up posters in Rochester
High Street.

One friend's mother, who did not want to be named, said: "My son
was there with him that night. We just feel so helpless, we're all
parents and to have something like that happen to your son, it
makes you feel desperate and useless.

"He loves the Army, it's his life. He would never go Awol
[absent without official leave]."

Police continued to search the mud banks and marshes of the
River Medway yesterday using a boat, helicopter and the Army's
help.

They have also reviewed CCTV for anything they have missed.

Insp Leppard said of the river: "It's a fast-running current.
For even the strongest swimmer that would cause difficulties in the
river, so it's a big danger point.

"We haven't used police divers at the moment - the reason for
that is because the river's very open. If it was somewhere
contained like a lake or a pond obviously we'd have parameters of
search."

More than 1,000 people have joined a Facebook group [LINK] to
plead for the soldier's safe return since he was reported missing
on Wednesday.

Josh, originally from Neath, South Wales, is described as white,
slim and about 5ft 9in with short, dark brown hair.

Kent Police boat on the
River Medway amid a huge search for Josh Thomas

On the night he disappeared he was wearing a dark blue Lyle and
Scott jumper with a white and red collar, grey jeans and white
Converse trainers.

The party-loving teen wrote several entries on his own Twitter
account about life away from the Army, including rugby, nights out,
trips home and watching Swansea City FC.

His last entry was on Sunday, April 7, when he wrote: "Dear
Easter leave, thanks for bleeding me dry and intoxicating my liver
beyond recognition. Ps, see you next April. #suffering."

Insp Leppard thanked the public, saying: "The whole community's
joined in to try and find Josh which is fabulous for his
parents."

Anyone who saw Josh in Corporation Street or has any information
is asked to phone police on 101 - quoting reference 10-0243 - or
Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

More than 1,000 people have joined a Facebook group to plead for the soldier's safe return since he was reported missing on Wednesday.

Anyone who saw Josh in Corporation Street or has any information is asked to phone police on 101 - quoting reference 10-0243 - or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.