THE mother of post office murder victim Diana Garbutt says she is dreading her daughter’s funeral today.

Mrs Garbutt’s funeral service will be held St James’s Church, in Melsonby, near Richmond, where she ran the village post office with her husband, Robin.

He is currently in prison awaiting trial accused of murdering his 40-year-old wife, who grew up in Eggborough. The couple had run the post office in Melsonby for seven years, having previously lived in York, where Mr Garbutt’s father still lives.

Mrs Garbutt’s mother, Agnes Gaylor, who runs the Boot and Shoe pub, at Gowdall, near Selby, said the funeral today would be very hard for her.

Mrs Gaylor said: “It’s going to be like hell truthfully. I’m totally distraught and dreading what it will be like. I just think it will be a very sad occasion.”

Mrs Gaylor said she expected the church to be packed out with Diana’s friends and family and that there would be various readings from people who loved her.

She said: “Diana was such a lovely person. She was very kind and considerate, a brilliant daughter.

“I’ve got two very close friends, she was one of them and my other daughter is the other. I’m never going to replace her.”

Diana’s husband, Robin, 44, has been charged with murdering her on March 23. Mrs Gaylor said she was trying not to think about him.

Mr Garbutt has not yet entered a plea, but his solicitor has said he will deny the charge when it is formally put to him.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said Robin Garbutt would not be attending the funeral.