Milroy Clarke's daughter, Sarah Leyfield 30092/3A SON charged with murdering his parents said his love for them would never fade, in a tribute read out at their funeral.

More than 300 people packed West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington on Friday for the funeral of Melksham couple Milroy and Joan Clarke.

The pair were found with multiple stab wounds at their home in Berryfield Park on December 7.

Michael Clarke, 20, who is charged with two counts of murder, was not at the service, but a tribute he had prepared was read out to mourners.

The Rev Canon Derek Smith, who led the service, read out the message, which said: "My love for them will never fade. Without them my life seems pointless, empty."

Mr Clarke said his parents would always be in his heart, before concluding: "I love you, mum and dad."

Sarah Leyfield, Mr Clarke's daughter from his first marriage, said she wanted to thank the well wishers who had turned up for the service.

She said: "We would just like to show appreciation for everybody who turned out to my father's funeral and say thank you to those that paid their respects and all their kind thoughts they passed on."

Mrs Leyfield, 38, said after weeks of mourning the family were relieved the funeral had been able to go ahead.

"It was just nice to lay them to rest at long last but it is all still hanging over us because of the court case.

"Someone said to me at the funeral that life goes on. There will be lambs in the fields soon and bulbs springing up. It's a never ending circle."

Mrs Leyfield said she had taken comfort from friends and family who had helped her cope with the tragedy.

Speaking after the service Mr Smith, a rector with the Melksham Team Ministry, said the nature of the loss meant it was particularly difficult for friends and family to deal with the grief.

"These people are devastated. Emotions were very raw at the service on Friday," he said.

"There are all sorts of people in the community that Joan and Roy had been involved with and all of these groups were represented.

"People were very emotional about their deaths and the tragic way these had come about. They are puzzled with the questions of why it happened.

"It's hard to grieve when there are things connected with the death that are not sorted out."

Mr Smith said although the Clarkes had met a 'violent and untimely death' he called on mourners to forgive those responsible for their deaths.

Songs played at the service included Lady in Red, Everything I Do and Candle in the Wind.

A wake was held for close family and friends at the Somerset Arms, Semington, less than a mile away from the couple's former home in Berryfield Park.