The widow of tragic church elder Michael Pollard is seeking a Hungarian speaker to help her send Christmas messages to his killers, whom she has forgiven.

And churches, schools and individuals across the district have helped her collect a mountain of food for folk in Kosovo.

Michael, 62, was killed in 1997 after the Baildon couple were attacked by robbers in Hungary while taking aid to Romania.

Following the tragedy, Jo Pollard's evidence helped convict Istvan Dudas, 19, Attila Bilecz, 23, and Laszlo Mester, 23, of manslaughter and robbery. They were jailed for a total of 24 years.

But despite her heartache, Mrs Pollard, pictured, a devout Christian, forgave the three and even met Dudas and Bilecz in prison in Budapest during a return trip to Hungary on the anniversary of her husband's death.

She said: "They're still serving their sentences and life must be pretty bleak for them.

"I just want to send them Christmas cards and write to ask them how they are but I only have a few words of Hungarian.

"I'd like to hear from anyone who can help me correctly translate the letters and cards into Hungarian but it would have to be someone who understands my forgiveness for the killers.

"I may ask Dudas if he still goes to the Christian services and Bible study classes he started, and how his parents are.''

Since the Telegraph & Argus reported in September how Mrs Pollard had been appointed regional co-ordinator for EuroAid's Harvest for the Hungry appeal, a dozen West Yorkshire schools, seven local churches and several individuals and other organisations have pledged their support.

Mrs Pollard, 57, said: "The response has been absolutely amazing - my garage is chock-a-block with boxes of food.''

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