Memorial service for Speight

Friends and family of children's TV star Mark Speight have paid tribute to him at a memorial service.

Speight, who hanged himself in April months after the drugs-related death of his fiancée, actress Natasha Collins, was described as a "shining beacon" by his father Oliver.

Australian entertainer Rolf Harris sang at the service at the Parish Church of St Paul in Covent Garden, central London.

And Kirsten O'Brien, Speight's co-host on the long-running BBC3 show SMart, described him as "really special".

Speight, who would have celebrated his 43rd birthday on Wednesday, was found dead in a building near Paddington railway station in April.

Miss Collins was found dead in the bath of the couple's flat in St John's Wood, northwest London, in January.

The 31 year-old had taken cocaine and sleeping tablets and suffered hot water burns to 60 per cent of her body.

Speight was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying class A drugs but no charges were brought.

Friends said the incident left him reeling and he went missing on April 7, just days after the inquest into his fiancée's death.

Despite appeals from his family, he failed to make contact and his body was discovered six days later in a building adjacent to Paddington station.

Paying tribute to his son, Oliver Speight said: "Mark had that beautiful ability to touch and reach out to children. Today is not only a celebration of Mark's life but also that of Natasha. They were soul mates."

Harris, who worked with Speight on a Trafalgar Square project, said: "It was joyful to work with Mark."

SP8 Of The Art - The Mark Speight Foundation has been set up to help nurture artistic talent in under-18s.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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