BLACKBURN-born Helen Guy yesterday paid a final moving tribute to the husband she called "my perfect love".

As the Union Flag-draped coffin of Royal Marine Captain Philip Stuart Guy was carried into church for a full military funeral, a solitary arrangement of white roses lay on top.

Written on a card among the flowers were the words: "To my perfect love. Thank you for the most joyful happy years of my life and for our beautiful children.

"You will be in our hearts for evermore. All our love forever, Helen, Henry and Emily xx".

Captain Guy, from 3 Commando Brigade, Plymouth, died along with seven other commandos when their American Sea Knight helicopter crashed in Kuwait on March 21.

Helen, 30, a teacher, who was born and grew up in Blackburn, was joined by hundreds of mourners, who lined the streets of Skipton, North Yorkshire, and filled the pews of Holy Trinity Church, where the couple married in September 2000. Accompanied by parents Bryn and Jeanette, she walked behind her husband's coffin for yesterday's noon service.

The couple's two-week-old daughter Emily Catherine, who was born ten days after Captain Guy's death, was also at the service, being cared for by a family member.

Their 20-month-old son Henry did not attend.

The 40-minute service, conducted by church curate Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard and Canon Adrian Botwright, was relayed by loudspeakers to hundreds of people who gathered outside.

A moving eulogy by colleague and former Royal Marine Daniel Hughes, was followed by hymns and prayers and a private burial service during which the Royal Marines fired three volleys over Captain Guy's grave.

There were more than 20 floral tributes from family and friends including a mixed arrangement from Helen's parents, with a card that read "Treasured memories of Philip, a much loved and respected son-in-law, mum and Dad Chad" and a cross of white roses and freesias from Philip's parents.

There was a laurel wreath from the Commandant General and all ranks of the Royal Marines, a wreath of white flowers from Lt General JG Reith CB OBE Chief of Joint Ops and all personnel involved in Operation TELIC, and a wreath with a message reading: "A respected close friend and colleague who will be greatly missed by all the officers and men of UK Landing Force Command Support Group Royal Marines."

Captain Guy, originally from the Yorkshire Dales, joined the Royal Marines after graduating from Salford University in 1995 and was deployed to the Gulf six weeks ago.

A qualified paratrooper, he had previously served in Bosnia and Afghanistan and was stationed in Plymouth.