New safety measures have been installed around a lake at a Romford park after the death of a 96-year-old man last year.

Safety signage has been installed alongside three buoyancy aids around the water in Raphael Park.

The move comes more than 18 months on from the death of William Shrubsole, whose body was retrieved from the lake by police in March 2023.

William Shrubsole was found dead in a lake in Rapael Park last MarchWilliam Shrubsole's body was found in a lake in Raphael Park last March (Image: Google) At the time, police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

The discovery followed a missing persons appeal for William, who went missing from Main Road at 10.30pm four days before the body was found.

A spokesperson from The Friends of Raphael and Lodge Farm Parks welcomed the new safety measures following the "tragic" death.

William Shrubsole was 96 when he diedWilliam Shrubsole was 96 when he died (Image: Met Police) But they said: “We are extremely disappointed however, that the gates to the park remain unlocked at night as this would provide a significant increase to safety.

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“Had the gates been locked that night it could have been a very different outcome, and we hope Havering Council will find a solution as they have previously stated."

The council did not directly respond to the group's comments about the park gates.

Warning signage has been installedWarning signage has been installed (Image: The Friends of Raphael and Lodge Farm Parks) A spokesperson for the authority said: “The death of Mr Shrubsole was extremely sad and we continue to offer our sympathies to the family who we know are going through a difficult time.

“We were asked to give evidence at the coroner court, and the coroner concluded that it was not possible to determine how, or when, Mr Shrubsole entered the water.

“As with all our parks we continue to maintain them as part of our ongoing programme, this of course includes Raphael Park."