HUNDREDS mourned for Clare Mace following her shocking death.

At her emotional funeral, Clare was given a police guard of honour. Officers who had been friends and colleagues of the young woman stood to attention with tears streaming down their faces.

They could not believe what had happened.

St Catherine's Church, in her home town of Burnley, was packed with mourners trying to make sense of the tragedy. But to this day they too will never know why a seemingly loving husband murdered his wife before killing himself.

Like the Mace family, Clare's parents, Sue and Tony Brierton, had no idea that they were soon to lose a child and thought the future for their daughter was very bright.

Clare, a former Towneley High School pupil, told family that she saw her future in the police and, according to her bosses, she showed extreme promise.

She had joined the force in 2001 after leaving the army which she had joined straight from school.

Shortly before her death she had completed the probationary period and had been placed in a shift response team based in Nelson.

According to her geographic Inspector Paul Robinson, speaking shortly after her death, she was doing "very well".

He said: "She had made many friends and she will be sorely missed both by those on her shift and throughout the wider division.

"As a probationary officer, Clare was exposed to a range of police work and, as a response officer, had been involved in arrests for a variety of street offences, had responded to complaints about nuisance and had been involved in the execution of warrants for drugs offences.

"Clare had a great deal of pride in her work and was very keen to do her best for members of the public.

"She was also active on the social side of things and was a member of a fitness club."

Her parents, in a statement released shortly after her death, also told how she was enjoying her new career.

They said: "She loved being a police officer and told us constantly that this was her future and that she was set up for life doing a job she adored.

"Her personality and smile lit up a room when she walked in and our lives will never be the same again.

"We have lost a loving, caring, beautiful daughter. Stacey has lost a precious sister whom she adored.

"We are so proud of everything Clare achieved.

"She will be sadly missed by everyone she knew and we will treasure every memory in our hearts, always."