A Glusburn woman desperately trying to respond to an Australian call for help is now pleading for help herself.

The plea from Edwina Metcalfe, postmistress at Glusburn post office, follows a letter published in the Keighley News earlier this month. In his letter sent from Australia, John Magro asked for any descendants of Ernest Hodgson, of Keighley, to get in touch, as he was trying to trace a family tree.

At the end of the letter, he gave his website - http://www.hotmail.com - for people to contact him at.

But Mrs Metcalfe, who is the granddaughter of Mr Hodgson, is urging Mr Magro to provide an alternative contact number. She is now asking him to publish his e-mail or postal address so she can respond to his request for help. Mrs Metcalfe says: "I never knew Ernest existed until I read this letter and I would really like to get in touch with Mr Magro."

She asks anyone who knows of the whereabouts of Mr Magro to get in touch with her.

Mr Magro believes Mr Hodgson, born in Raskelf, North Yorkshire, at the end of the last century, spent most of his life in Keighley and served in the Royal Navy during both world wars.

Mrs Metcalfe can be contacted at Glusburn post office on 01535 633140.

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