THE parents of a man who murdered his police officer wife and then is believed to have committed suicide today said "something must have snapped in his mind."

Police discovered the bodies of Clare and Richard Mace at their home in Sefton Close, Clayton-le-Moors, on Christmas Eve.

The Nelson police officer, whose family live in Burnley, was downstairs room with stab wounds. Her husband, 26, was discovered upstairs and is believed to have cut his wrists with the same weapon following a row.

Yesterday, Clare's parents, Sue and Tony Brierton, from Burnley, recalled how their daughter was "precious, vibrant, chatty and our best friend."

They said they were totally numb with disbelief at what has happened and would "miss her for ever."

June and Richard Mace, who live in Middlesbrough, said their son's actions were completely out of character as he loved life and was devoted to his 23-year-old wife.

His parents have prepared an eulogy for their son which ends: "What has happened in very recent times is so much out of character for Richard, something must have snapped in his mind, for if he was here today he would be shocked. The rest of us are in disbelief at what he has done. This is a tragic ending to a wonderful life."

His parents said the couple, who married in October 1998, had split up six days before the deaths after Clare told her husband she was leaving him.

His parents and brother Robert, 20, are waiting for his body to be returned to Middlesbrough so the funeral can take place.

Mrs Mace, 45, said: "It was very much out of character, he never harmed anybody or anything at any time. We know they'd been arguing and we know she left him, we know nothing else"

Mr Mace, 47, added: "They had little tiffs and disagreed with each other, everyone's done that but he never raised a finger to her before. They were devoted and did everything together."

The couple said they were expecting their son home for Christmas Day but instead they were in Lancashire identifying his body.

Richard joined the army in 1997, where he met Clare while doing his basic training, and served with the Royal Army Corps for three years. After leaving, Clare worked as a police officer and Richard became a community liaison officer working with asylum seekers in Wrexham.

Richard was a lifelong Middlesbrough FC fan and his dad said: "He was fun loving and full of life. He used to phone me up from the match if Middlesbrough scored and he would hold the phone up and let me listen to the crowd."

His mother added: "He phoned us every day, at least once and he would phone me on my mobile two or three times a day.

"He was devoted to his family and would look out for his younger brother -- they were very close. He had lots of friends.

"Everyone knew what a nice person he was and no one had a bad word to say about him whatsoever and was never, ever in any trouble."

An inquest has been opened into the deaths. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and the inquests will be heard together.