STUDENTS at Preston's university are mourning the death of a popular scholar who was just a year away from completing an honours degree.

Toby Scott, 22, died just before starting the third year of a BA (Hons) degree in furniture design at the University of Central Lancashire.

He was at his term-time home when he died. Police have confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Toby, who was from Hertfordshire, had recently suffered from ME.

His funeral was held at Preston Crematorium, in Red Scar, after his parents decided to hold a service in this area so that more of his friends from university could attend.

A memorial service is being planned near his family's home, and will take place in a few weeks time.

Friends from his university course are hoping to design a memorial in his honour, to be placed on the university campus.

Staff within the university's design and technology faculty spoke highly of Toby. A spokesman said: "Toby was a hard-working and talented student and was popular with all who knew him.

"We expected him to be successful in his final year and he would have had a bright future.

"This is devastating news for the university and we share the grief of his friends and close family."

It is the second time in two years that the start of the new academic year has been overshadowed by a shock death.

Last year 18-year-old George Hegarty died on Penwortham Holme football pitch, just days after starting at the University of Central Lancashire. It later he emerged from a rare disease which affects the beating of the heart.

An inter-university football trophy has been named after him.

A spokesman for the UCLa's students union said: "We offer out deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Toby and to all those who knew him and to acknowledge the role he played in university life."

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