And tributes have been paid to the 18-year-old, of Broadlands, Downham, who had returned home from Staffordshire University last weekend to spend Mother's Day with his 44-year-old mother.

Jonathon was last seen at about 3am on Saturday as he walked home along the river bank from a party in Salters Lode in stormy conditions.

Police, coastguards, volunteer lowland search-and-rescue teams from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire and Jonathon's family and many friends carried out an extensive search over the weekend and Monday.

And on Tuesday, at 11.35am, a police diving team found his body in the river, close to where he had last been seen and where one of his trainer shoes and beanie hat were found, during their continued search of the waterway between Downham and Salters Lode.

A Norfolk Police spokesman said: "Police are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Jonathon's death and the inquiry has been handed over to HM Coroner for further investigation."

An inquest is expected to be opened in Norwich early next week following a post mortem examination.

Devastated parents Nick and Carolyn Barber, who have another son Alexander "A.J." (16), paid their own tribute on Wednesday.

They said: "We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our wonderful eldest son Jonathon, known to many as Jonno.

"We have had so much support and gained strength from our families, friends, neighbours and particularly Jonno and his brother A.J.'s mates and friends to help us through this very difficult time.

"We would like to thank everyone for their love, thoughts, prayers and support.

"In addition, we must thank the volunteers who turned out on Monday, the Downham police unit, the Norfolk Police dive team, the Lowland Volunteer Rescue Service, the Coastguard and RAF search and rescue crew who were so caring and dedicated during their search for Jonno."

Mrs Barber has written down everything that has happened and gone through her mind since Saturday, and is collecting newspaper articles and pictures of the search to keep as a lasting memento.

Downham Town Mayor John Doyle said: "It's an absolute tragedy for the family and the whole of the town. All the teenagers I know are absolutely devastated and it may take them a time to get over this because they are a close-knit community.

"They are all pulling together at the Methodist church hall and trying to get some comfort out of bonding together and taking flowers down to the bridge."

Martyn Alton, head of sixth form at Downham College, where Jonathon was a former pupil, said: "Jonathon was a quiet, self-assured, polite and reasonably hardworking lad in terms of what he needed to do and achieved his aspirations of studying design and technology at degree level."

Jonathon achieved A-levels in psychology, design technology and biology and was in his first year of his degree course. "He was liked within the college and several staff here are upset," he said.

Jonathon had been studying animatronics (creation of robots) and computer-generated imagery, providing special effects for computer games, at university.

A Staffordshire University spokesman said: "Jonathon was a popular student and all of the staff and students who knew him are very upset and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

Sam Wane, senior lecturer in applied technology at the university, said: "Although Jonathon was fairly quiet in class and preferred to work alone on his projects in the laboratory, he was well-liked and gained respect from the other students.

"He meticulously designed and built a drum-playing animatronic robot and enthusiastically presented it to the rest of the class. He was progressing well with his studies and showed promise with animatronics."
Tributes on the Lynn News website included one from A Sad Mum from Lynn, who said: "This has to be every mother's nightmare. My heart goes out to Jonathon's family and friends."

Another to his family, from A Friend's Sister from Downham, said: "My thoughts are with you at this terrible time. Jonno was a lovely guy and will be deeply missed."

The funeral service will take place at St Edmund's Church in Downham at a date to be arranged.