FOR eight weeks she had clung to the hope that her missing husband was still alive.

Corin Martin never stopped believing that the man she described as "the love of my life" would be found safe and well.

But fears for the safety of Southampton taxi driver John Martin, better known as Noddy, increased with each passing day.

In a series of interviews with the Daily Echo, Mrs Martin often lowered her voice and admitted that her husband might be lying dead in the New Forest.

She was proved tragically correct when his body was found in dense undergrowth between Beaulieu and Exbury on Tuesday.

Mrs Martin, 44, received the devastating news just hours after speaking to the Echo at the couple's home in Elgin Close, Hythe.

In a moving interview she described the couple's great love for each other, saying they often held hands even while watching television.

She also revealed plans to become a taxi driver herself in a bid to make ends meet following her husband's disappearance.

Mrs Martin said: "My life has been torn apart but I've got three children and have to find a way of keeping it all together.

"Becoming a taxi driver makes perfect sense because John's cab is sitting outside.

"If I don't start driving the car myself I'll only have to sell it, which is not something I want to do.

"I've already taken the vehicle out a couple of times and actually found it quite comforting. Much better to drive it myself than see someone take it away."

Tragically unaware of the news she was about to receive, Mrs Martin said someone might be harbouring her husband.

She said: "He may think he's ruined everything and can't come home, but I want him to know that it's safe to return and that I want him back."

Mr Martin, 50, had three grown-up daughters from his first marriage - Sam, Vicki, and Lisa, who is due to get married later this year. Mrs Martin has two children from a previous marriage - Ellie, 14 and Daniel, 16.

Together they had a daughter, Lydia, nine, who designed a poster with the words "My Daddy Is Missing - Please Find Him" shortly after he disappeared.

Mr Martin, a director of Streamline Taxis in Southampton, vanished on February 15 after coming home from work in a bad mood.

His wife told him to stop moaning and went to visit a friend. She returned 90 minutes later to discover that he had left the house, having first removed his wedding ring.

Yesterday Mrs Martin released a statement in which she paid tribute to her husband of 11 years.

She said: "John was a warm, loving and caring family man, a wonderful husband and father who was much loved by me and his children.

"I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported me and my family through the ordeal following John's disappearance, particularly the police, the media and his friends and family, who did all they could to help us trace John.