A retired teacher today posted a batch of lovingly-wrapped Christmas gifts - to her husband's young killers.

Jo Pollard, of Baildon, was devastated when robbers killed her church elder husband Michael, 62, during an attack on the couple as they travelled through Hungary with a van full of aid for Romania in 1997.

But despite her grief, the devout Christian has been able to forgive Istvan Dudas, Attila Bilecz and Laszlo Mester, who are all in their 20s and were jailed for a total of 24 years after being convicted of manslaughter and robbery.

And last year she even met two of them in prison in Budapest during a return trip to Hungary to mark the first anniversary of her husband's death.

Earlier this year Mrs Pollard, 57, appealed through the Telegraph & Argus for help in translating her Christmas messages to the killers.

Following the T&A article two Hungarian women - Krisztina Wood, of Baildon, and Eva Pearson - offered their services and Krisztina, 26, has now helped Mrs Pollard translate her letters into Hungarian.

Packages containing a letter, card, a Yorkshire calendar and chocolates as well as a Christian leaflet printed in Hungarian are now en route to the prison cells where the three men are serving their sentences.

New Zealand-born Mrs Pollard said: "I've written to say I often think about them, that I know things must be very difficult in prison and to let them know I really do forgive them.

"I'd obviously like them to read the Christian leaflets but have said if they don't want to can they just pass them on to someone else.

"I know they must fulfil their sentences and be punished for what they did but I just have this love for them - I know it's odd but I can't help it.

"I hope that by showing them this unexpected kindness it will help them come to terms with things and that they will come out of prison better people - that they may be able to help others and repair their lives.''

Meanwhile Mrs Pollard is hoping to return to Hungary again next year.

She said: "I'd like to go and see each of them in their own prisons to let them know I still hold with what I said, to see if there's anything I can do for them and keep up the contact.''

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