AVON and Somerset Police has become the first force to rule it will not release the surnames of missing people they are trying to find.

Officers say only publishing the Christian name will ''reduce the potential negative impact on the individual''.

It will no longer be including surnames when appealing for help in finding vulnerable missing people.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We've had new guidance suggesting that appeals for vulnerable missing people should be restricted to the first name only, to reduce the potential negative impact on the individual.''