MOURNERS were urged to remember the "purposeful lives" of a couple whose lives ended in tragedy.

The Reverend Graham Morgan paid tribute to Derek and Margaret Wood, who were found dead in their Darlington home almost two weeks ago.

He said that the devoted grandfather, who stabbed his wife to death before turning the kitchen knife on himself, had been suffering from depression.

He added that no one would ever understand why the tragedy had happened.

"The pain is very real, the sadness is unbearable at the loss of two very special people," he said

More than 150 mourners attended Northlands Methodist Church in North Road yesterday to remember the Woods - described as "a caring couple who threw their hearts and their home open to the world".

Mr Morgan said the large attendance was a "wonderful tribute" to the couple.

"There is a sense in which many of us do not want to be here at this time. We want to think we have been having a bad dream and want to wake up from it. In another sense, we wouldn't be anywhere else."

Police broke into their home in Stephenson Street shortly before midnight on Thursday, December 2, and found the body of Mrs Wood, 52, downstairs. She had been repeatedly stabbed.

Mr Wood, 60, found outside, had died from self-inflicted stab wounds and a 20ft fall from an attic window.

Yesterday, Mr Morgan said Mr Wood had suffered from health problems.

"Sadly, Derek had been suffering from depression, but even his own family did not know the extent of this as he kept it to himself.

"But don't let their tragic deaths overshadow their full and purposeful lives."

Mr Wood lived all his life in Stephenson Street. The pair met through friends and married in August 1977.

Mr Morgan said: "Derek was quiet and laid back, Margaret was never lost for words. They complemented each other in many ways.

"They cared for children of friends and family and all were treated the same. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them, they would drop anything and go anywhere to help anyone."

The couple leave three children, Dawn, 26, Darren, 23 and Neil, 25, and two grandchildren, Sophie, 17 months and Harry, 19 months.

Mr Wood had previously worked as a cable worker at the Whessoe steel plant in Darlington.

He enjoyed drinking with his friends at the social club in Northgate and watching sport. He grew prize-winning leeks.

Mrs Wood collected keyrings and porcelain dolls, loved doing jigsaws and bingo and was renowned for her steak and kidney pie.

* The Northern Echo attended the funeral with the permission of the family.