The National Home Guard have joined police officers and a helicopter equipped with a thermocamera in the search for the man who disappeared in the vicitnity of Gagnef in Dalarna in central Sweden.

Dogs have been deployed to search nearby Lake Gimmen but to no avail.

“We have 12 units taking part plus a number of volunteers on snow scooters and some travelling by motorbike on the minor roads,” said Lars-Åke Lindman at Dalarna police to news agency TT.

The police helicopter arrived back in Stockholm at 4am on Friday but will return to continue the search later in the morning. 10-15 police officers, together with around 20 from the National Home Guard will continue the search for the man on Friday.

The 21-year-old was on his way to a party in the town of Gagnef on Wednesday but he never arrived. He was reported missing the following afternoon.

“He was supposed to cycle from his home to a cabin where there was a party. It was a cycle ride of around two kilometres. We have found his bicycle around 500 metres from the cabin,” said Lars-Åke Lindman.