Tributes paid to murdered student

The university said it was "shocked and saddened" by his death

The family of a 24-year-old student murdered on a night out in Liverpool have paid tribute to the "exuberant" young man who "lit up their lives".

Sion Hardy, from Bangor, was attacked after leaving the Nation night club in Wolstenholme Square with friends in the early hours of Thursday.

Mr Hardy was taken to hospital but died later. He was involved in an argument shortly before his death, police said.

Four men from Liverpool are being held on suspicion of murder.

The 24-year-old was studying for a degree in civic design at the University of Liverpool.

His family said: "Sion lit up the lives of his mother, father and sister Sara.

He was very popular with his colleagues and the news about his death has had a great effect on many of them Anglesey Council

"He was a loving grandson, a diligent student, and he lived life to the full, enriching the lives of all who came into contact with him.

"To lose someone so young and exuberant is a heavy blow to us as a family."

Sion's father Robin is the brother of well-known north Wales estate agent Dafydd Hardy and TV presenter John Hardy.

When home in north Wales during university holidays, Sion worked at Anglesey Council's planning department.

The 24-year-old died after an assault in a tunnel

The council said he was a "happy and jolly young man" who was very conscientious and was looking forward to a career in planning.

"He was very popular with his colleagues and the news about his death has had a great effect on many of them," a spokesperson said.

The University of Liverpool also paid tribute to the student saying they were "shocked and saddened" by his death.

"Sion was well-known and well-liked and had a close group of friends within the Department of Civic Design. He was a very able student who would have gone on to a promising career in planning.

"The university is offering every possible support to his friends and other students who may have been affected by the news."

Merseyside Police said the victim was involved with an argument with a man he knew shortly before his death.

Two men aged 20 and 22, from Aigburth, and two men from Everton, aged 20 and 21, are being questioned on suspicion of murder.