THE family of a Brunel University student found dead in the Thames nearly 16 years ago are calling for a murder inquiry to be launched after receiving a tip-off.

The body of Ricky Reel, 20, was found in the river in Kingston-Upon-Thames on October 22 1997, a week after separating from friends whilst on a night out following a racist attack by two white men. It was the last time he was seen alive.

Police said his death was an accident, and an inquest in 1999 returned an open verdict, but Mr Reel's family have always believed that Ricky, who was studying computer science at Brunel, was murdered, and they have criticised the subsequent Met police investigations.

In an interview with BBC being broadcast this evening (Wednesday), Mr Reel's mother, Sukhdev, reveals that she was recently contacted by someone who gave her the name of the person who killed her son.

The unnamed suspect is said to be in jail for a different murder.

"They have come back and said the person who gave the information is too frightened to speak to the police and that maybe this person has learning disabilities and may not be credible," said Miss Reel.

The family's campaign for justice has been backed by the Southall Monitoring Group.

The Met Police confirmed that they were made aware of this new lead, but added that there was insufficient evidence to take the matter further.