AN Oxford University student who sold a rare first edition of the Harry Potter books to fund his studies has been found hanged in his college room during Freshers’ Week.

Toby Rundle, 21, from west Somerset, who was studying classics and English in his final year at Lady Margaret Hall, was discovered by a fellow student on Thursday.

He was in a “very positive” mood in the days before his death, his father said. Chris Rundle, farm editor for the Western Daily Press, said he had “no idea” why his son might have taken his own life.

He took Toby, right, back to Oxford on Sunday with no problems.

Mr Rundle, from Williton, told his newspaper: “I took him out to lunch with his best mate and they said, ‘We know we have a tough year ahead, but what the hell, it is only one year’.

“He was looking forward to it and I had an email from him on Tuesday saying everything was ‘ace’ – we had no inkling that he was unhappy.

“He played rugby for his college last year and he just worked and enjoyed life. We may never know what happened.”

He had been out for a drink with friends on Wednesday and all were in “good spirits”, Mr Rundle added.

In 2007, Toby hit the headlines when he sold a first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for £7,200 to help pay his way through university.

Police spokesman Claire Gourlay said the death was not being treated as suspicious.