THE family of the head gardener of a North Yorkshire estate have paid tribute to their “considerate, popular and funny” son.

Stephen Mead, 53, gardener at Arden Hall for Lord and Lady Mexborough, went missing on January 31 and his body was found after a major search on Snilesworth Moor on Saturday.

Mr Mead’s father, Northern Echo columnist Harry Mead, said: “Stephen was a wonderful son, always considerate and helpful. He was greatly loved and valued by his family, friends and girlfriend Anne. He was popular in the local community and everyone is struggling to understand why this has happened.

“Until the day before the tragedy started, while my wife Shirley and I were on holiday in the Lake District, he was phoning daily to ask about our fell walks. He ended the last of these conversations by saying ‘What about Federer then?’ and we agreed Roger Federer’s victory in the Australian Open was marvellous.

“Stephen was a highly accomplished country house gardener and the garden he created at Arden Hall impressed all who saw it.

"The snowdrops that carpet the nearby woodland, now beginning to rank with the most famous displays in the county, were planted by Stephen over the last 23 years.

“Among those who knew him Stephen was also renowned for his irreverent and teasing sense of humour – so different from his dad.”

Mr Mead was last seen at 8.40pm on Tuesday, January 31, walking in woodlands surrounding the Hall, near Hawnby, in the Helmsley area of North Yorkshire.

His body was sadly discovered in the River Rye on Snilesworth Moor.