THEY had been married a mere seven weeks and were planning the rest of their lives together.

But all that newlywed Becki Harvey has now are her happy memories after losing the man she described as her soulmate – just a week after moving into their new home where they planned to start a family.

She paid tribute to husband and father-of-two Darren Harvey, who died in a crash involving a Winchester fire engine on Saturday.

The devastated 22-year-old told how she felt numb following the 25-year-old's death in the New Forest, but said at least they had shared their perfect wedding day.

Darren's Ford Puma was in collision with the fire engine returning from an emergency call on the A337 between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst shortly before 11pm.

A firefighter had minor injuries but Darren died from his injuries at the scene.

Becki and Darren, of Portsmouth Road, Woolston, were married at Ringwood Registry Office on July 4.

They had met three years ago in the Old Mill pub, in Holbury, as Becki was originally from Holbury and Darren from Blackfield.

However they became a couple on Valentine's Day in 2013 and Becki said they had been inseparable ever since.

Becki, who suffers from arthritis of the spine, said Darren took care of her. "He was just an absolute angel, he really was one of a kind, so selfless," she said, adding he was a "cheeky chappy".

"He was my best friend. We wanted to grow old together. It just hurts so much."

On the night of his death Becki said Darren had gone out for a drive and to get cigarettes, but she became concerned when he did not come back so called police. Later she received the news he was gone.

A tearful Becki described Darren, who has two sons Jacob and Dylan Greenhalgh, aged eight and six respectively, from a previous relationship, as an "incredible father".

The former Noadswood School pupil also studied at Southampton City College and then went on to work as a mechanic and had just started a new job at Pitt Stop Garage in Shirley.

Becki said he would often be found helping out family or friends with any vehicle trouble and was known for always having blackened hands from working on cars.

Becki shared her memories of her wedding day where someone had forgotten the rings so they had to improvise with family members' rings.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to cope without him, he was just the other part of me – half of me is missing," she added.

"I'm so happy I got to marry my soulmate. It's painful that that's it now. We didn't get to enjoy married life."

"But that day was so perfect I don't feel pain about it."

Hampshire Constabulary continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

A police spokesman said a file is being prepared and will be passed to the coroner.