Floral tributes have been paid to the missing university student from Sutton whose body was recovered from a lake by police.

Daniel Williams, 19, was last seen at midnight on January 31 after going on a night out at the University of Reading’s 3Sixty bar on the Whiteknights Campus.

The second-year computer science undergraduate’s body was pulled from a lake on the same campus on February 5 before his identity was confirmed by detectives.

Now staff and students at Reading University have left floral tributes outside the bar where Mr Williams was last seen.

There will also be a vigil held in his memory at 5.15pm tonight (February 7).

READ: Body found in university lake confirmed as Daniel Williams

Professor Robert van der Noort, the university’s acting vice-chancellor, said: “Daniel and his family and friends are in our thoughts. I have met with Daniel’s family and offered our condolences and any assistance they may need.

"I am proud of the way in which everyone at the university came together to support the search. The response to his disappearance, and support of the appeal, shows the high regard in which Daniel was held.

"I would also like to express thanks on behalf of the whole University to the police, those who helped with the search, and the thousands of people, including the press, who shared the appeal for information.

"I cannot comment on the ongoing investigation and want to stress that we do not yet know the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death.

"I would not wish to speculate on these circumstances as this would be insensitive to Daniel’s family and friends at this time. Once the investigation concludes, we will review any findings and respond accordingly."

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Daniel Williams

Thames Valley Police, who were investigating his disappearance, said Mr Williams’ death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

Students and staff at Reading University will also be able to pay their respects to him during a private gathering and sign a book of remembrance, according to the Reading Chronicle.

An online petition urging to improve safety measures around Whiteknights Lake, where teenager’s body was recovered, has also gained more than 10,000 signatures.

Reverend Mark Laynesmith, the university’s Anglican chaplain, said: “As a community, we’ve been anxiously waiting for news about Daniel and are now in shock and deep sadness.

“Tonight the university community are gathering together to support one another in our grief. We will be holding Daniel, his family, his friends and one another in our hearts. We hope to fill the room with light in this dark time.

“We will be offering books of condolence to our students and staff to sign which we hope to pass on next week to Daniel’s family.”