FRIENDS united to pay tribute to a young man who apparently took his own life after posting a goodbye message on Facebook, saying he was a "lovely lad who always had a smile on his cheeky face".

Will Evans, who was 28 and worked at Hanbao restaurant in Worcester and lived in Malvern, had a passion for music and skating and was described as a fantastic dad to his young daughter.

Around 30 of Will's friends and family gathered at Victoria Skate Park in Malvern on Thursday to light candles and release 30 lanterns into the sky, all with messages dedicated to him.

Gemma Henton, a friend, said: “A group of us decided to do something to remember him and show how much we love him.

“We all got a lantern each and wrote on it how much he was loved and how many friends he had who cared for him.”

“He was the type of lad you just loved from the moment you met him.”

Around 100 friends also gathered and lit candles on the common near where Will lived in Malvern.

Miss Henton added: “Everybody wants him to know how much he was loved by so many people.”

Will attended Dyson Perrins CE High School in Malvern before studying music technology at Kidderminster College.

He was found dead at his home in Beauchamp Road, Malvern, shortly after 3.10pm on Thursday November 8, after posting a message on Facebook which included the phrase “I’m out”.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed that an emergency call was made at 3.11pm, with a male “declared dead at the scene”.

A Go Fund Me page has been launched to raise money for Will’s family and more than £740 has been donated so far.

If you are suffering with suicidal thoughts, you can contact Samaritans in confidence for free from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit.

You can also email jo@samaritans.org or go to www.samaritans.org to find details of your local branch of Samaritans where you can talk to one of its volunteers face to face.