A FORMER colleague of the ex-soldier who killed his two children in a Hampshire village has spoken of his shock and distress.

New Forest farrier Alex Chalmers said he and other ex-members of the Household Cavalry might have been able to help Michael Pedersen if he had told them about his troubles.

Mr Pedersen was one of the troopers who survived an IRA nail bomb attack in Hyde Park, London, in the summer of 1982.

Three days ago he stabbed his two children, seven-year-old Ben and six-year-old Freya, before turning the knife on himself. A post mortem yesterday found he had died from stab wounds to the chest.

The 51-year-old former Army sergeant had recently split up with his second wife, Erica, 43. Shortly after leaving the family home he told friends: “It's the worst day of my life.”

Mr Chalmers, of Bashley, near New Milton, said he last saw Mr Pederson in July at an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the bombing.

“He was the life and soul and seemed so very happy,” he said.

Asked about the tragic events that unfolded at Newton Stacey, near Andover, on Sunday Mr Chalmers added: “I'm just shocked and saddened. There are two young children there who had their lives ahead of them.

After leaving the army in 1986 Mr Pedersen, of Chertsey, Surrey, set up a transport company with his wife. But the couple parted a month ago.