​Friends, family and strangers from across the UK donate over £50k in under 24 hours in memory of Glasgow student

Over £50,000 in donations has been raised by friends and family of Karen Buckley after a fund was set up by her former nursing classmates from Limerick.

Donations poured in from across the UK and Ireland from friends and strangers during the 24-hour fundraising appeal.

Over 2,800 people donated to the 'Help Find Karen' gofundme.com page, many of them anonymous.

The page, which had an initial target of £5,000, closed at 9.30pm last night (16 April).

It ended with a total of £50,001 with the largest single donation pledged standing at £1,000.

The funds will be used to pay for the Karen’s family's accommodation and travel expenses while in Scotland.

Organisers posted: "a huge thank you to everyone for your kind words and amazing donations. The response has been overwhelming.

"We hope that what has been raised will be of help in any way possible to Karen's family. Thank you all so much for your amazing generosity."

Among the last to donate, was policeman Alan Barrie who posted: "from a Scottish cop and family, this used to be my stomping ground, such a tragedy. Thoughts with Karen's family and friends."

And Judith Westwood, from Aberdeen, donated and posted: "I am so so sorry - there are no words."

The Caledonian University student went missing after a night at the Sanctuary nightclub in Glasgow's West End last Saturday.

Her body was found by police at a farm to the north of the city four days later.

A man is due to appear in court over the death today (17 April).