Kevin Boyle was last seen on CCTV at Purley station on October 12, 2011, at about 5.30pm.

Mr Boyle was one of celerity chef Jamie Oliver's original apprentices at his restaurant Fifteen, after he reached the final 30 out of 1,500 competitors on his TV programme Jamie's Kitchen in 2002.

The former Croydon College and Coulsdon High School school student's disappearance sparked a national campaign to try to locate him.

The website, findkevin.co.uk was launched and celebrities helped raise the profile of the campaign by tweeting about his disappearance using #KevinBoyleMissing.

In addition to Jamie Oliver, chef Delia Smith, Masterchef host John Torode, television presenter Sue Perkins and comic Eddie Izzard were among the celebrities who tweeted about Mr Boyle's disappearance.

The discovery of Mr Boyle's body was made just 24 hours before an emotional television appeal by Oliver was due to be aired on ITV.

The celebrity chef was supposed to appear on This Morning, in a segment presented by Gloria Hunniford call Missing, but the police pulled the appeal following the discovery of his body.

In the recording, Oliver pleads: "Kevin never really left us, he was always part of the Fifteen restaurant team. If anyone's seen Kevin, please get in contact with the show."

The day before his body was found police combed the area with 40 volunteers from Lowland Search Dogs, a voluntary dog aided search group that offers help to the emergency services.

Police were called to Chaldon Way, Coulsdon, on January 22, to reports of a body found in the rear garden of a residential property.

The garden, which measures about 300ft, backs on to a public footpath through overgrown leafy woodland known as the Farthing Downs.

A police spokesman said: "Since October police inquiries have been ongoing, to try and establish his whereabouts.

"Officers conducted a search on Saturday in the Coulsdon area and that was supported by Lowlands charity."

The chef who was a member of the congregation at Purley Baptist Church, was a Crystal Palace fan and the club repeatedly displayed messages on their big screens during matches and on their radio station.

Mr Boyle, who grew up in Purley, dreamed of opening a family restaurant that served the local community.

As part of his hunt to find a business partner for the venture, Mr Boyle launched the website "Get Kev a Restaurant."

On it he wrote: "I want a restaurant that serves the local community, to be a place where memories are had and times with loved ones shared.

"I want to bring back a sense of community to where I was born and raised."

After struggling to find a business partner, Mr Boyle landed a job as chef de partie at Vinoteca diner and wine bar in Farringdon.

His colleagues said in the week's before his disppearance, Mr Boyle's depression became more intense.

Head chef John Murray said: "When he was up, he had a real positive energy, but there was always the sense that this was looming over him."

Mark Humm, the youth minister at Purley Baptist Church, was the last person to see Mr Boyle alive.

He said: "I saw him outside Purley station, we had a chat for 20 minutes, I could tell he was very upset about something. He said he wanted to be on his own."

Paying tribute to his friend of 10 years, Mr Humm said: "Once you met Kevin he was unforgettable.

"He was one of the most generous, caring and fun people I have been friends with, he left that imprint on you.

"I loved him like a brother and miss him deeply, we shared so many great times together, often involving food.

"He impacted my life more than he would have known and I don't have the words to sum up how brilliant he was.

"Kev loved spending time with my young son. Joel couldn't say his name and so Kev will always be known as uncle Koko- he is much loved and greatly missed."

Jamie Oliver has led the tributes paid to Kevin Boyle.

Oliver, who took the 26-year-old on as an apprentice in 2002, said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of his death.

He said: "I am proud to have been able to call Kevin a friend for 10 years. He was also a constant supporter of Fifteen and all the apprentices and graduates who came after him through the course.

"I last saw him in September 2011 at the graduation ceremony for the ninth group of apprentices and he was on good form, which makes this news even harder to take.

"My thoughts are with his family at this incredibly difficult time."

Mr Boyle studied at Lancaster University and frequently attended the evening service at Purley Baptist Church where he was baptised.

Family friend Peter Fosdike paid tribute to Mr Boyle on behalf of the congregation at the church.

He said: "Kevin never failed to amaze us or make an impact on our lives.

"He was passionate about his friends and we are only now seeing just how many friends from all over the world he has, he was truly and deeply loved by so many.

"Kevin was humble and caring and yet was bold and creative enough not to shy away from a challenge, he was looking for a business partner to set up a restaurant and acheived incredible feats in his life.

"As a group of friends from Purley Baptist Church, a close and loving community, he will be deeply missed, a family has lost their brother.

"He was witty, intelligent and quick to laugh, but also deeply sensitive, compassionate and rebuking of the injustices of the world.

"Kevin has left what only Kevin could do, a Kevin shaped hole in the hearts of many. We know he is with the Lord and know he is in peace and everlasting happiness.

"Our deepest condolences to the Boyle Family."

Tributes were also paid by Crystal Palace Football Club who repeated messages about Mr Boyle's disappearance on big screens during matches and on its radio station.

A club spokesman said: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Kevin Boyle and we take this opportunity to send our deepest sympathy to family and friends of him at this difficult time."

Mr Boyle's former employer St John Restaurant in Farringdon, tweeted: "Kevin Boyle worked at St John only for a short while, but what a fine young man and chef.

"This morning's news is so very, very sad."

Tributes have also been paid on Twitter, with the Crystal Palace Supporters' Trust tweeting: "Sad to learn of the death of #cpfc fan Kevin Boyle.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. at this difficult time. RIP."

Chef Gennaro Contaldo, who is widely known as the man who taught Oliver, tweeted: "Very sorry to hear of sad death of Kevin Boyle.

"He was one of Fifteen's first group of trainees. RIP Kevin, you will be greatly missed."

Elisa Roche, Showbiz Editor of the Daily Express, who was one of Oliver's Fifteen trainees tweeted: "For Kevin and for me and everyone who has been under Jamie's wing, it has been the best thing that ever happened to us. RIP sweet kid X"

Among tributes on the website findkevin.co.uk, Stephen Philip Donnelly wrote: "I'm glad Kevin's body has been found but sad that he has passed away.

"Rest in peace Kevin and to those left behind, all our prayers are with you at this time."

And Miss C Furnell said: "I had the pleasure of teaching Kevin at secondary school.

"He remains in my memory as a sensitive and caring young man, with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes."