Tributes have poured in for a “happy and smiley” 21-year-old student who went missing last week, after police said they recovered a body in woods near Marlow yesterday.

Bucks New University student Ivan Kulyk, from Tilehurst in Reading, was last seen in Reading on the morning of February 17, with a high-profile appeal getting underway to find him

Police released pictures on Friday of Ivan boarding a bus at 6.46am on February 17 and getting off in the sleepy village of Medmenham at 7.35am.

And officers made the tragic discovery yesterday around midday, saying they believe the body found in woodland is that of Ivan. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

University friends and teachers have paid tribute to the student – who moved to the UK from Ukraine as a child – saying he had a keen sense of humour and brightened up classes.

On a Facebook page dedicated to finding Ivan, Mary Oluwaseyi Kumolu said: “ I'm still in shock! I spoke to you not too long ago. We laughed we joked ended with see you in lecture next week.

“Such a bright future gone!!! RIP Ivan...my prayers are with your family. RIP Xoxo.”

And Jasmine Barnes said: Rest in peace Ivan. Thank you for making our lectures enjoyable with your witty comments. Prayers are with your family. God bless.”

Ivan was studying on a human resources course at the High Wycombe university, with lecturers joining scores of people to pay tribute to the young man, described by all as a happy individual.

Mary Simpson at Bucks New University, said: “RIP Ivan. I had the pleasure of teaching you every year for the last three years and you will be missed by all your friends at Bucks - lecturers included.

“Your sense of humour made me smile every lecture. Thinking of your family and all your friends xx”

Ivan’s heartbroken mother Oleksandra Longmuir has spoken of her grief.

She told GetReading: “I'm extremely proud of my son and will really miss him with all my heart. I will treasure the 21 short but wonderful years I had with him.

"He was always so happy and smiley. He would help people all of the time and had a lot of friends.

"He always made me smile."

Police search teams discovered a man’s body yesterday after an extensive search of the area.

After scouring an abandoned waterworks in the village of Medmenham, officers turned their attention to woods near the spot where Ivan was spotted getting off the bus.

Neighbours said police went door to door in the area on Friday night in the hope of jogging people’s memory about seeing Ivan on Friday morining.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said: “The police came and spoke to us on Friday night and gave us the poster.

“They came back and started searching at the Water Research Centre at first around 10am then moved up to the woods.

“We then heard the news later on. I have no idea why he got off the bus here. It’s very sad to hear.”