The mother of a young musician whose body was found in a canal after he went missing from a rave has described how the grief shared by those who knew him could “sink a battleship”.

Pat Cooke said she took comfort in tributes paid to her son Andrew, 29, from Crystal Palace, saying he was “so well thought of and respected.”

Police have now formally identified Mr Cooke’s body, after he was discovered in a canalized section of the River Lee by Wharf Road, next to the Kings George’s Reservoir just over the border in Enfield on March 13.

He was last seen leaving a party at a disused building in Lea Valley Road, Chingford, just one month before on the afternoon of Sunday, February 12.

In a moving post on a Facebook group now dedicated to her son, known as 'Cookie' by friends, Mrs Cooke, from Thames Ditton, said: “We would like to say thanks for all the kind thoughts and expressions of sympathy that have come our way.

“We know that our suffering has been shared with all of you that if the sum of it was weighed, it would sink a battleship.

“Through the medium of Facebook we would like to say a huge thank you to all the people out there who used it to help in the search for Andrew.

“We will never meet most of you but we have been overwhelmed with the things you have written and the care that has been shown.

“My husband Graham joined a few of Andy's close friends for an hour yesterday evening and had a couple of beers - they were simply fantastic and just gave him more strength to carry on knowing that our lad was so well thought of and respected.”

Writing on the Facebook group wall just one day before Mother’s Day, Mrs Cooke added she was grateful to people who had shown her new sides of her son’s personality.

“The kind things that have been appearing on Facebook show qualities that Andrew possessed in situations that we were not aware of as his parents,” she said. “In particular, how he would be kind to those who might otherwise have found difficulty integrating with others or because they were simply in trouble.”

Before Mr Cooke's body was discovered, his family carried out multiple searches of the area and distributed hundreds of leaflets and posters in an attempt to find him.

Speaking last week, his uncle Brian, 63, from Orpington, thanked those who had tried to locate his nephew.

He said: “We’re deeply sorry. His parents are in shock and in grief. Although it’s also a relief to us now we know.

“Andrew had a young and very talented life, and we know from the Facebook group [which raised awareness of his disappearance], which has nearly five-and-a-half thousand followers, that he was well liked.

“He is at peace and we at least know where he is. We knew that he would not have walked away from all those he loved.”

The drummer’s band The Shady Grays announced they would be splitting up following his death.

They posted an online message saying: “The Shady Grays sadly announce their demise due to the death of Drummer Andrew "Cookie" Cooke. He is irreplaceable. RIP Cookie.”

Countless messages from friends were posted on an online tribute group.

One from Jess O'Callaghan said: “Oh my goodness I'm so very sorry my thoughts are with all Andy’s family and anyone who knew him at such a sad time.”

And Chalky White wrote: “So sad, my old form mate and musical pal the legendary little dude Cookie , love & respect to all the Cook family.”

Did you know Andrew? Call the news desk on 02087226337 or leave a tribute below.