Speight's father talks of grief

The father of the late children's TV presenter Mark Speight has revealed that public support for his family has "filled him with humility".

Oliver Speight said letters the family has received were so "stunning in their beauty that you feel moved. That grief is almost stronger than my own".

Mr Speight also revealed the last time he saw his son he had seemed "reserved and withdrawn".

The 42-year-old hanged himself in April following the death of his fiancee.

'Tragic accident'

Natasha Collins died at the couple's flat in St John's Wood, north London, earlier this year after taking cocaine, sleeping tablets and alcohol.

"He was constantly full of this remorse about her," Speight's father said.

"You felt that he was wondering could he have done more, the question we'd all ask ourselves.

"The answer is he was asleep. She was found in the bath and the situation is quite clear in my mind - it was a tragic accident."

Mr Speight, who looked after his son's finances, admitted he had had "suspicions" that he had been taking drugs after large sums of money disappeared from his account.

Despite that, he said the SMart presenter's legacy would be "the compassion, the artistic skill and the joy that he gave to those children".

He has set up a foundation in memory of his son, which is hoped will find artistic talent.