A POLICE guard of honour will attend the funeral of PC Clare Mace in Burnley tomorrow.

The 23-year-old's colleagues from Nelson Police Station and her boss, Inspector Paul Robinson, will be involved in the formal proceedings at the funeral, to be held in St Catherine's Church, in Todmorden Road, at noon.

Clare's body was found at her home in Sefton Close, Clayton-le-Moors, on Christmas Eve, along with the body of her husband Richard, 26.

Police believe her husband had stabbed her to death before slashing his wrists following a row, just a week after the couple separated.

The couple had met while serving in the Royal Signals Corps and married in October 1998 when Clare was 18.

Richard, who was originally from Middlesbrough, had been working as an asylum seeker support officer in Wrexham. Police said he had left notes for both their families.

Clare's parents Sue and Tony Brierton have described their daughter, a former Towneley High School pupil, as "precious, vibrant, chatty and our best friend".

They said: "We are all numb with disbelief at what has happened. Our lives will never be the same again."

Clare had joined the police force in December 2001 and had recently completed her probationary period. She was working as one of a team of response officers based in Nelson.

Inspector Paul Robinson, geographic inspector for the Nelson area, said: "Clare took a great deal of pride in her work and was very keen to do her best for members of the public.

"She had made many friends and she will be sorely missed both by those who worked alongside her on her shift and throughout the wider division."

Assistant Commissioner Adrian McAllister also paid tribute to Clare.

He said: "Clare was a committed police officer who was well respected in the force. She had a promising career ahead of her."