The husband of a commended police officer who died giving birth to twins yesterday spoke of his joy and sorrow.

Twins James and Hannah were delivered by Caesarean after PC Sarah Underhill, 37, died from massive blood loss last Sunday.

The Thames Valley police officer collapsed at almost 40 weeks into her pregnancy after being admitted to John Radcliffe Hospital with complications three days earlier.

Both babies are now out of intensive care and are said to be doing well.

Her husband, Thames Valley Sergeant Richard Underhill, said yesterday: "I cuddle the twins and it makes me feel happy because I really love those children, but when I leave I feel guilty having felt joy in this sad time.

"We knew we were having a boy and a girl and it was the perfect combination.

"When she died it really was like standing at ground zero as if everything had been wiped out around me. It's like having a part of yourself ripped away and knowing it's not going to come back.

"Looking back makes me sad, but looking forward also makes me sad because we had so many plans. We were planning to explore the world with our children.

"Hannah is making great progress and James has already overcome some major hurdles, although it is difficult to know at this stage whether or not he will have any long-term problems."

The couple, who married in June 2005 and lived in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, were desperate to have children and were overjoyed when PC Underhill became pregnant. "We had nine months of apprehension, fear and joy," he said. "When Sarah got past 30 weeks we were so excited.

"I last saw her on Saturday afternoon and although she was virtually incapacitated because she was so big, she was so happy and chirpy.

"Sarah was a wonderful, generous person who always put other people before herself. She was the sort of person who cheered everyone up.

"She really wanted to be a mum and she would have been a fantastic mum.

"She had been researching how to bring our babies up to make sure they got the best start in life. She nearly made it. I want Sarah to be proud in the way I bring up our children - I want to bring them up the way she wanted."

PC Underhill won a commendation in 2004 for saving a man, who had been shot in High Wycombe, after giving him vital first aid.

Flags at police stations in the area flew at half-mast on Friday in tribute. "I can't emphasise enough how proud Sarah was to be a police officer," said Sgt Underhill.

"Recently, she was working as a Neighbourhood Specialist Officer at Marlow covering Bourne End and Wooburn Green, and she loved it because it was all about people."