A FORMER Hereford college student has been called an "exemplary student" by the university where he was studying.

Matthew Reeves, who went to Hereford Sixth Form College before moving to study at university, was killed in a crash in Somerset last month.

His family paid tribute to their "perfect son", and said he was honest, hardworking, funny, full of life and always treated everyone with respect

The crash with a car happened when he was cycling in the village of Bishop Sutton at around 7.10pm on Thursday, July 8. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he sadly died at the scene.

Mr Reeves, 26, was born in Merthyr Tydfil, in South Wales, but his family moved to Hereford when he was young.

After studying for his A-levels at Hereford Sixth Form College, in Folly Lane, he went on to Cardiff University where he achieved a first class honours masters degree in physics.

After his studies in the Welsh capital, he moved to the West Country to pursue a PhD in condensed matter physics, and it was during his time in Bath when his love of cycling grew.

The University of Bath's head of department of physics Dr Richard James said: “Matthew was working with Dr Steve Andrews as a student in the Condensed Matter Physics CDT run jointly with colleagues in Bristol.

“He was an exemplary student, having finished top of his class at Cardiff University.

"He was making excellent progress on his PhD and would have no doubt produced a fine thesis, one of which both he and the University could be proud.

"He was a keen and talented cyclist and loved cycling for Bath Cycling Club.

"He will be greatly missed by his friends at both the University of Bath and the University of Bristol.”

The university said in a statement it knew the death would affect fellow students, friends and staff, but a range of support was available.

Specialist police officers from Avon and Somerset Police continue to offer support to Mr Reeves's family, with the investigation into his death ongoing.