A body has been found in a lake by officers searching for a missing student in Reading.

Daniel Williams, 19, was reported missing after he failed to return to his student accommodation following a night out in a student union bar on the Whiteknights campus at the University of Reading on Thursday.

Thames Valley Police said officers found a body in a lake on the campus on Tuesday morning and, while the body had yet to be formally identified, Mr Williams’s family had been told of the discovery.

Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams (Thames Valley Police/PA)

Superintendent Stan Gilmour, local policing area commander for Reading, said: “Tragically, officers searching for Daniel have located a body.

“While the identity of the person who died is yet to be established, we have informed Daniel’s family and are providing support to them.

“Please could I make an appeal to respect the privacy of Daniel’s family at what must be a deeply difficult time for them.”

A major search, aided by search and rescue volunteers and the National Police Air Service, was launched for Mr Williams, who was in his second year studying computer science.

The death is being treated as unexplained and is not believed to be suspicious, the force added.