THE father of a 20-year-old Worcester man who died on New Year's Day has paid an emotional tribute to his son - saying he was "everything" in his life.

Last night (Wednesday) there was a large gathering of friends who held a candlelit vigil to Prasanth Perinparajah at Arboretum playing fields.

As we reported yesterday, Mr Perinparajah - known to many simply as 'P' - was found on New Year's Day by Merseyside Police, at about 6pm, in a flat in Henry Street, Liverpool.

He is believed to have been attending a New Year's Eve party there and his death is not being treated as suspicious.

His father, Perinparajah Rajaratnam, told your Worcester News he is lost without his son, who was "hard working, talented and will be missed by all who knew him".

He said: "I miss my son. He was everything in my life.

"Everything I did was for my family and P was a big part of the family- without him I'm lost. I can't live without him.

"His mother looked after him, and always spoiled him. Every day she would make sure he was fed properly. She will suffer a lot too."

Mr Perinparajah was studying at a college in Birmingham at the time of his death, after leaving Worcester Sixth Form College in 2014, and his father said he was very hard working and studious.

"He worked very hard and there was no rest, he tried to keep everything in order.

"I have good memories of meeting P's teachers, they all said he was well behaved and very studious.

"Since going to college in Birmingham he has been even more studious than ever, because he wanted to get good grades.

"Anything he wanted he would make sure to work hard and get it."

Mr Perinparajah was known for his love of going to the gym, and it was his father that encouraged his passion.

"He used to be very skinny, but started working out and eating a lot. We all encouraged him, so that he would feel healthy.

"He worked hard at everything he did- whether it was football, the gym, college or work.

"P has lots of friends and family, all who will miss him very much. No one ever had a problem with him, and he loved his friends and family very much."

Tributes to Mr Perinparajah have been flooding into your Worcester News.

Debi Coldicott: said "RIP young man taken far too soon. Only knew of you when you played a match with my son. Keep those boots on up in heaven, and show them how to play x"

Joshua Rajiv said: "Rest in peace brother."

Natalie Smith said: "Football won't be the same without you there, The Bell won't be the same without you! R.I.P P- it was a pleasure to know you and your memory will live on through the Bell F.C. xxx"

Sharon Townsend said: "May you rest in peace Tq for being a wonderful friend to my son thoughts are with all friends and family at such a sad time xxxx"

• At the vigil, tributes were written to Mr Perinparajah on cards and a football, and there was a release of several sky lanterns.

P shaped balloons were also brought along to the event, and donations were made by the dozens in attendance, which is going towards a fund raising money for Mr Perinparajah's family.