THE family of an Abergavenny man whose body was found near a Gwent canal have spoken of their "devastation" at the news.

The remains of Richard Hancock, 41, were discovered last Friday, more than eight months after he went missing from his home in the town.

And the find, in woods between Llanover and the a bank of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, is the second tragedy to befall the family this month.

In a statement released through Gwent Police, Mr Hancock's family said: "We've been hoping and praying for Richard to return home safely to us since he went missing last year.

"However, this news has left us devastated particularly because it comes so soon after the untimely death of his father Bernard last week. Bernard's dying wish was to see his son return home. It was not to be.

"We will console ourselves with the fact that they are now together and we no longer have the heartache of wondering where Richard is.

“We would like to thank the police for their efforts to find Richard and the support we have received as a family particularly from our family liaison officers.”

Mr Hancock, who had not gone missing before, was last seen leaving his Abergavenny home on Friday June 4 last year. An appeal to try to trace him ws made the following month.

Police cordoned off a section of the canal following the discovery of the body, at about 1.15pm last Friday. Gwent Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.