THE daughter of a devoted grandfather told for the first time last night how health problems may have driven him to stab his wife to death before killing himself.

Only a week before Derek Wood, 60, killed his wife, Margaret, 52, in December last year, he went partially blind, which had left him unable to drive, read or work.

His daughter believes that this, combined with depression, back and joint problems, a severe stomach ulcer, industrial disease and tinnitus - constant ringing in the ears - had driven the former Darlington cable worker to commit the crimes.

Last night, Dawn Wood, 27, spoke to The Northern Echo as she tried to put her parents' deaths behind her and move on with her life.

Miss Wood said she and brothers Neil, 26, and Darren, 24, wanted their parents to be remembered as "the lovely caring couple they were", rather than for the tragic manner in which they died.

She said: "I was very close to him. I don't want anybody to think badly of him. I want people to know the state he was in."

She described how her parents devoted their lives to caring for their grandchildren and doing jobs for friends in their North Road community.

They died only days before their third grandchild, Jessica, was born.

They had been excited about her birth and had filled their house with Christmas decorations and presents for grandchildren Sophie and Harry, both now two years old.

Two weeks before their deaths, Mr Wood told his children he had been suffering from depression.

"It was a very brave thing for him to do, as he was a very proud man," said Miss Wood, who lives in King's Lynn, Norfolk, with her partner, Steve, and daughter Sophie.

"He wasn't coping with it, but he told me not to worry about him."

It is believed that Mrs Wood found her husband harming himself with a kitchen knife.

She had tried to stop him, but had ended up being stabbed.

Mr Wood died from a mixture of self-inflicted stab wounds and a fall from the attic window.

An inquest into their deaths, in April, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing for Mrs Wood and an open verdict for Mr Wood, because there was no suicide note.

Their bodies were discovered on December 2.

Miss Wood added: "One day, we will have to tell the children what happened. I will tell them the truth.

"I am making a scrap book of newspaper cuttings and over 100 cards we got after it happened, which I'll show them when they are old enough."

Miss Wood wished to thank family and friends who had given their support.