THE widow of a Royal Marine killed during a tour of Afghanistan has spoken of the moment she received the knock on the door every forces wife dreads.

Niki Taylor is one of four women training to tackle a half-marathon for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund next month.

The day she received news of her husband’s death is still raw in her mind.

“Within seconds my life was completely crushed,” Niki told the Daily Echo.

Her husband Luke Taylor, a sergeant in the elite Royal Marines, died after being shot by an Afghan soldier at the main base in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province.

The 33-year-old Burton man was one of two servicemen killed in the shocking attack that day in March 2012.

Niki said: “There’s always a risk that it is going to happen to you, but really you feel it never will.”

Niki and her running pals, Hollie Higby, Julie Saunders and Krista Geraty, met the Echo at Burton Village Green, where a commemorative bench for Sgt Taylor takes pride of place.

On the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF) and the villagers who supported her after losing Luke, Niki has nothing but the utmost praise. “I was with Luke for 12 years. Within seconds my life was crushed. Within days our bank accounts were closed.”

So Niki, alone with young son Roan, found herself dealing with her husband’s death and the fact that she couldn’t pay for anything.

“The charity just sent me a cheque. They didn’t ask what rank Luke was, whether I was worthy of it, nor how much money I had.

“The charity supports families like us, but they also raise money to help rehabilitate injured servicemen.

The Bath half-marathon is on March 2. Visit virginmoneygiving.com/team/teamtaylor2 to support the girls, and rmctf.org.uk for information on the charity.