Widow Jo Pollard spoke today of how she came face to face with young killers in a Latvian prison and told them how she forgave those responsible for her husband's death.

Mrs Pollard, 56, is now on her way home from Latvia and Lithuania following her first aid mission to eastern Europe since her church pastor husband, Michael, was killed during a robbery in Hungary last year.

The Baildon mother-of-three has been travelling with members of the Doncaster-based Aid to the Baltic Communities group, which has been delivering medical supplies and equipment to Latvia and Lithuania.

Their trip -- using a van owned by the Shipley-based aid charity Jubilee Outreach Yorkshire (JOY) - has included visits to hospitals, a refuge for street children, needy families and a young offenders institute.

Barry Glaves, of Sheffield, who is also travelling with the group, said: "Jo spoke very movingly at the prison and told the boys there, some of whom are in for murder, about her experiences and how she has no hatred for the people who who killed her husband.''

Speaking from Lithuania Mrs Pollard, who has consistently expressed forgiveness for her husband's killers, told the Telegraph & Argus: "I was a bit apprehensive going into the prison because some of the lads were of the same ages as the ones who caused Michael's death and one of them looked very similar as well, which took me aback a bit.

"But I'm glad I did it and it's been a really good trip. It's great to get back into it and I'd definitely come back again.''

She has said after 29 years of similar aid trips, visiting the region was ''in her blood'' and she had not allowed the tragedy to break her spirit.

During the group's stay in Latvia, Mrs Pollard also managed to meet up with Riga-based Baptist minister Joseph Bondarenko, who had stayed at her home in Baildon earlier this month to build up links between churches in this country and Christians in Siberia where he has done missionary work.

Mr Pollard, 62, pastor of the Emmanuel Evangelical Church on Baildon Green, died last August after the couple - who were en route to Romania - were attacked by robbers in a Hungarian layby.

The three young attackers were later convicted of manslaughter and robbery and jailed for a total of 24 years by a Hungarian court.

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