THE grieving sister of a man found dead after he went missing on New Year's Day said she had been "overwhelmed" by tributes left on the Lancashire Telegraph's website.

The body of missing Blackburn man Joe Culshaw was found in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal on Saturday morning.

His friends have left a raft of touching tributes on-line at the Telegraph's website. Joe's sister, Charlene Dugdale, 18, who lived with Joe in St George's Avenue, Mill Hill, said: "I have read the comments left on the website. It's overwhelming and touching to know that people thought so much of him."

Police said the body of 31-year-old Joe was spotted in the waters at Albion Street by a passer, almost three weeks after he disappeared on New Year's Day.

Joe went missing during a night out in Blackburn to celebrate the New Year.

His family said he was depressed and had just split up with his girlfriend.

His parents had also died during the past three years.

Police are not treating Joe's death as suspicious and it is suspected to be a suicide.

The Blackburn Rovers fan was last seen in the Jubilee pub, Blackburn, where he had once worked behind the bar.

A collection to help pay for funeral coasts has been started at The Old Mother Redcap, where Joe once worked, and also at The Jubilee Hotel in Blakey Moor.

The funeral is set to be held on Tuesday at Pleasington Crematorium at 11.30am followed by a gathering for friends and family at the Jubilee Hotel.

His family have urged anyone who ever knew Joe to attend the service.