A DEVASTATED North-East family were hit by a double tragedy on Christmas Eve as a former soldier killed his wife before taking his own life.

Richard Mace, 26, and his police constable wife, Clare, 23, were found dead at their home in Lancashire.

Detectives said PC Mace, based at Nelson police station, near Blackburn, east Lancashire, had been stabbed to death and her husband had committed suicide.

They said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, which came a week after the couple split up.

Mr Mace's devastated parents, Richard and June, of Middlesbrough, said they were struggling to come to terms with the deaths.

His mother said: "We just cannot believe it that something like this has happened.

"We are all devastated. He was popular and well-loved by his friends and family. He was especially close to his brother, Robert."

She added: "He loved Clare very much."

Police broke into the couple's home, in Clayton-le-Moors, on Christmas Eve after concerned neighbours heard a disturbance.

They found PC Mace dead downstairs and discovered the body of her husband, who had signed for York City FC as a teenager, in an upstairs room.

Mr Mace was raised in Middlesbrough and only left Teesside when he joined the Army in the Royal Signals Corps at 18.

It was while in the Army that he met his future wife, a fellow soldier from Burnley.

PC Mace decided to join the police in December 2001 after leaving the Army and was described as a committed officer.

Mr Mace had been employed as a support worker for asylum seekers in the Midlands.

The pair had no children and had been living in Lancashire for a year.

Friends in Lancashire said Mr Mace was a fanatical supporter of Middlesbrough FC and had planned to see them play Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park yesterday, three miles from the couple's home.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "At this stage, it is thought Clare died from stab wounds and that Richard died from self-inflicted injuries. We are not looking for anyone else."