Student Lance Cleverley left a farewell poem on the internet before he was found dead in Monkton Park, Chippenham.

Friends and family of the 25-year-old have spoken of their shock after he was discovered hanging from the blue bridge in the park by a dogwalker at 6.30am on Friday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by police, who are not treating his death as suspicious.

His older sister Corinne, of Corsham, said: “I continue to be so proud of my brother and regard him as my best friend who I love so much.

“We will finish college together because he will always be in my heart.

“He has inspired so many with his unique qualities and, as anyone would say, his amazing sense of humour. Never following the herd, always dancing to his own tune, I and many others will miss him greatly.”

Mr Cleverley, originally of Bences Lane, Corsham, moved to Chippenham to start an access to higher education course at Wiltshire College with a view to starting university in Oxford in September.

He worked as a barman at the Two Pigs in Pickwick for more than two years.

Best friend Mark Witts, 25, who lived opposite Mr Cleverley for more than 20 years, said: “Lance was one in a million – he is irreplaceable. He was always happy and positive and always managed to lighten the mood.

“We are all devastated by what has happened – we were totally shocked and still are.”

Mr Cleverley had posted a poem, titled A Last Note, on a poetry forum shortly before his death.

Its closing lines read: “But you’re not really listening you’re wondering why I did it; wondering if I was bullied and why I hid it; wondering if I was on drugs or losing my sanity; never thinking for a second I lost my love for humanity; so now you’re thinking I was down or feeling out of place: no, not really I’ve just quit the human race!”