THE parents of murdered police officer Clare Mace today told how they were numb with disbelief at the death of their 'beautiful' daughter.

The bodies of Clare, 23, and her husband Richard, 26, were found at their home in Sefton Close, Clayton-le-Moors, on Christmas Eve.

Police believe Richard stabbed Clare then slashed his wrists following a row -- a week after the couple had split up. They have now also revealed that Richard, who had been working as an asylum seeker support worker in Wrexham, left notes addressed to the two families at the scene.

Clare's family are being given support and her police colleagues are to be offered counselling to help them deal with the traumatic death.

Clare's parents, Sue and Tony Brierton, from Burnley, said: "Our daughter Clare was so precious, vibrant, chatty and our best friend.

"We are all totally numb with disbelief at what has happened. We will miss her for ever.

"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 her precious sister whom she adored.

"We are so proud of everything Clare achieved. 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.

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

The police would not reveal the contents of the notes that had been found with the bodies, but said the two families would be given a chance to read them before they were presented to the coroner, who will hold an inquest into the deaths.

Det Supt Mick Gradwell said: "Letters had been left by Richard to family members. They will be handed to the coroner as part of the file of evidence."

Clare, who grew up in Burnley and attended Towneley High School, joined the Army, aged 16, where she met Richard, who was originally from Middlesbrough.

The couple married in October 1998 when she was 18.

She joined the police force in December 2001 and had been based at Nelson since completing her initial training.

She worked as part of a shift team of officers, responding to a variety of incidents, and her immediate colleagues were informed of her death during the Christmas period and are being offered support in coming to terms with her death.

Her geographic inspector Paul Robinson said: "I have known Clare since she came to Nelson on her first operational police posting and she was doing very well.

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

"At this stage the families will be giving some thought to the arrangements and we will do what we can to support them in any desires they may have.

"As a probationary officer Clare was exposed to a range of police work and as a response officer she 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.

"She had not yet had the opportunity to be party to a major policing operation but in common with other officers she had participated in reassurance patrols such as those in Brierfield earlier this year.

"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."

"The team that immediately worked with Clare have sent a floral tribute to her family but what we are very respectful of is the family's wishes.

"If the family wish to speak to any of Clare's colleagues there are quite a few who would be willing to go and talk to them.

"Many of the members of her immediate team find themselves on breaks or rest days but we are in touch with them by phone and they will be coming togather as a team in the near future."