Sharlene Hatton and her fianc Mark Hyde should have been spending today celebrating the third anniversary of their first meeting - and discussing plans for their forthcoming wedding.

Instead heartbroken Sharlene was planning to mark the day by laying flowers at Mark's grave, accompanied by their baby son Leon who was born just four days before Mark was killed in a road accident.

The Telegraph & Argus reported on Saturday how an inquest heard that part-time DJ Mark, 33, of Bolton Lane, Eccleshill, died after his car was in collision with a double-decker bus on the Stanningley bypass on January 13.

The inquest heard that Mark, who was on his way home from working at a party at his niece's home in Leeds, had been suffering from tiredness and may have momentarily fallen asleep or lost concentration.

Today Sharlene, 23, recalled Mark's joy at the birth of their son Leon Mark Hyde.

She said: "We had been trying for a baby for about a year and had just bought a new house when I got pregnant, so it was like everything had fallen into place.

"Mark was over the moon when he found out and was jumping up and down like a big kid. He was with me when Leon was born and just couldn't believe he was a dad. He was brilliant with all his nieces and nephews and would have been an excellent dad.

"In one way it's good that Leon's so young and doesn't realise anyone's missing, but the saddest thing is he'll never get to know his dad.

"Mark was getting up with Leon through the night and was absolutely shattered as he hadn't had a proper night's sleep for four days.''

Sharlene said that when Leon was older she would show him a cherished video of him with Mark.

She said: "I'll tell him that his dad loved him and that we had wanted him more than anything else in the world.'

"We went from being so happy and having everything we wanted to losing it overnight.

"Mark was so entertaining and full of life - he was the life and soul of every party and I don't know anyone who disliked him.

"He was loved very much and will be missed by everyone.

"Everybody's said that at least when it happened he was the happiest he'd ever been.

"He'd got his son, fiance and a new house and we were hoping to get married this year - which is of some comfort.''