A COMMUTER is appealing for help in identifying handwriting following the discovery of a cry for help found in Reading today.

Alex Prentice, 28, of Taplow made the grim discovery on his way to work this morning when walking through the passageway under Abbey Gate on the way to Abbey Gardens.

The anonymous letter, covered in footprints and tyre marks, reads: 'By the end of the week my time will be up. My mind will play its last trick'.

The note is signed off: 'Liam was as good as you'll ever get' followed by a small doodle of a heart.

Mr Prentice said: “To be honest it was a very dark note and not something you'd want to find on a Friday morning, particularly at this time of the year.

“It's clearly a cry for help and I just really hope that the person who wrote the letter will get the help they need as I know this is the time of year where a lot of people contemplate suicide.”

Police have confirmed no reports of unexplained deaths have been raised.