Police have launched the search for Mr Palmer, 20, and his French companion Erwan Ferrieux, after items belonging to the pair were discovered at Shelly Beach, on the New South Wales coast north of Sydney. Walkers found their belongings at about 6.30am on Monday (7.30pm GMT Sunday), and police later discovered their rental car in the beach's car park with a number of personal items, including travel documents, inside. New South Wales Police said a water and ground search had begun, but that there had been no sightings of the pair. Police have not disclosed how long Mr Palmer and Mr Ferrieux had been in Australia. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "Our staff are in contact with police in Australia and the UK following reports of a missing British man at Shelly beach, New South Wales." More to follow...All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility