THE parents of Luke Jobson, 22, whose body was found in a river in Yarm have paid tribute to their son. 

Mother Lisa Jobson, 46 and father, Stuart Banks, 49, of Thornaby, said how they "couldn't have hoped for a better son" as they remembered him.

His parents, who described Mr Jobson as a driven young lad and a caring son, said they could not have asked for a better son.

Ms Jobson: "We're proud of everything he's done and everything he is.

"We want to celebrate him - we just want to say a massive thanks to
everybody and we want everybody to remember him for the good.

"That's the type of person he is, he thinks about other people, he thinks
about their feelings.

"Luke was very loving. He was a mummy's boy, a bit more open with me.

"He used to confide in me and ask me what I thought of things - he would listen to me."

Mr Jobson, a trainee engineer had been last seen near the Keys pub and heading towards Yarm School at around 2.15am on Saturday.

On Monday more than 100 people gathered at Yarm School as they began an unofficial search effort.

Close family and friends were joined by members of the public in an effort to find Mr Jobson, before the search was called off upon police discovery of his body in the afternoon.

Mr Jobson's mother added: "The whole search showed the love for Luke.

"I can't thank everybody enough for helping with the search. It took my
breath away and really showed how much love there is for him.

"Every area was covered, people were going everywhere to look for him.

"You don't realise how good people are - the respect I have for these people is
just massive.

"I want to say a massive thank you to all of them."