The body of a nurse who studied at Bucks New University has been found in a car in a river just hours after she clocked off from a hospital night shift.

Laurie Jayne Jones, 23, was last seen leaving the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff at around 1.40am on Tuesday wearing her blue nurse's scrubs, and was reported missing after she did not return to her home in Caerphilly.

The nurse studied at Bucks New University and graduated in 2017. According to her social media pages, Laurie was also a staff member at Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust until the end of last year.

On Wednesday, Gwent Police said the paediatric nurse had been identified as the body of a woman found inside a submerged car near the B4251 road in the village of Wyllie, Blackwood, at around 1pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Karen Buckwell-Nutt, head of school for nursing and allied health at Buckinghamshire New University, paid tribute to Laurie, who was described as "well-liked".

She said: "It was with great sadness that Buckinghamshire New University learned of the death of Laurie Jones who graduated from Bucks in 2017.

"We offer our sincere sympathy to Laurie’s family and friends at this difficult time.

"Laurie was a respected and well-liked member of our University community who made a valuable contribution both academically and as an active member of Bucks’ Students’ Union. We are proud of Laurie’s commitment to the nursing profession and to the many patients for whom she cared during her studies and since graduating from Bucks.

"Laurie will be sadly missed."

Detectives are not treating her death as suspicious, and were said to be supporting her family members.

A statement from Gwent Police said: "Laurie's family would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support, and for sharing the appeal to help find Laurie when she was reported as missing.

"They ask that they are now left alone to grieve in private as a family.

"Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Laurie Jones at this tragic time."