HUNDREDS of people have paid tribute to a dad-of-five from St Helens after the body of a man was found at the former Prescot water tower on Monday morning.

Stan Powell had been missing since the early hours of Sunday, July 29 when he left hospital around 3am - with his concerned family setting up a Facebook page dedicated to finding him.

However on Monday, July 30 they announced that he had died via the page Help find STAN.

This followed emergency services including four police cars, a forensics van and an ambulance being called to a site opposite the Wellington pub in Eccleston Park around 7.55am on Monday, July 30.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing. At this stage the death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Since announcing his death, more than 200 people have sent their tributes to Stan, with a further 350 reacting to the news on Facebook.

One well wisher was Lindsay Platt, the daughter-in-law of 88-year-old dementia sufferer Jack Platt who was found following a two-day community led search and later died in hospital.

She said: “RIP from the family of Jack Platt. We feel your grief and understand how you are feeling.”

Pauline Fairhurst Stout, via Facebook added: “So so sad yet again. Rest in peace Stan ... good night god bless and condolences to the family.

“My thoughts are with you.”

Frankie Goodier said: “Thinking of you! Great bloke, lots of fun and great sense of humour, will be sadly missed.”

Dave O’Dowd added: “RIP Stan. Was a team-mate of his for many years at Moss Bank Labour club. Great man, great player, will be very sadly missed.”

A fundraising page has been set up to raise funds to help the family pay for Stan’s funeral.

It said: “I have set up this love & support page in memory of Stan Powell who sadly passed away on the 30/7/2018.

“Stan was a loving husband to Bernie, dad to Nichola, Stephen, Laura, Jamie and Kerry, grandad, great-grandad, uncle, cousin, brother and friend to many.

“As a family friend, I would like to support the family at this sad time by raising some money to help towards funeral costs.

“Let’s all get together, make a donation and give Stan the send off that he deserves.”

As the Star went to press the total was £390.

To donate visit gofundme.com/funeral-funds-for-stan-powell.