A COMMUNITY came to a standstill to pay their last respects to a man allegedly killed by his wife just five weeks after they married.

Hundreds of mourners broke down and wept inside Whalley Parish Church as they heard how Roger Osliffe had 'wanted nothing more than to provide a warm family environment for his son.' Many of those in the church had been their just five weeks before, when Mr Osliffe, 35, had married Catherine Marie Johnson, 33. She has since been charged with his murder.

Yesterday, they heard a tribute from Mr Osliffe's best friend, Craig Barnes, who had been his best man, and also from the Rev Chris Sterry, who had performed the wedding ceremony.

Mr Osliffe died in Blackburn Royal Infirmary despite hours of surgery on June 6. His wife is accused of stabbing him with a kitchen knife at the couple's home in Green Park, Whalley, just a hundred yards from the church where he was christened, confirmed married and, yesterday, where the village gathered to say farewell to the self-employed fencer.

Family friends flanked the hearse as it made the short journey from his father Michael and mother Ann's house in Woodlands Drive, to the church. His family, including young son Michael and brother Neil, followed on foot .

Among the floral arrangements was a Rovers' shirt, a blue-and-white football and a bouquet signed from his friends in the 'Whalley Clarets.'

Mr Sterry told the congregation he had got to know Mr Osliffe around 10 years ago.

He said: "He was always part of the crowd, always wanting to be centre of attention but always wanted a quiet life. All he wanted was to create a stable family home."

Craig said: "He has left a big hole in all our lives. Michael was the apple in his eye, he adored his son."

Roger ran a fencing firm called ARK with a partner in Clayton-le-Moors.

He was buried at Wiswell and Whalley cemetery.