THE granddaughter of a German prisoner of war who stayed on a farm in Herefordshire has kept in touch with the host family for more than 40 years.

Birgit Schulz, from Germany, and Julia Lowther, who lives in Yarkhill, first started to write to each other when they were eight-years-old: they are now 51.

They met for the first time three years ago when Birgit came to the county to see Moorfield Farm in Allensmore, where her grandfather, Hermann Walter, worked and lived for two years.

He was captured on the Belgium border in 1944 and was a prisoner of war at the Tupsley camp until he went to live with Eric and Isobel Powell, and their three sons.

Hermann should have stayed at the camp, but as he was very busy at the farm he stayed with the family who made sure he lived comfortably with meals cooked for him and a large reception room for him to stay in.

Hermann returned to Germany in 1948, but kept in touch with Isobel as they exchanged letters.

Isobel was a nurse and sadly died when she was just 38 from TB, leaving Hermann to wonder what had happened to his penpal.

Julia said: "The letters suddenly stopped and he didn't know why. When Birgit was eight he asked her to help him write to England to find out what happened.

"My grandfather then gave me the letter and said you better deal with this. We were both about eight.

"I never mentioned that my grandmother had died and I don't know if Birgit's grandfather ever knew she had died, and just 40 miles from where they lived as my grandfather had sent her to Switzerland to get better. She died out there."

Birgit and Julia continued to write to each other and Birgit has just stayed with her in Herefordshire again.

Julia said: "Hermann always wanted Birgit to learn English and to take him back to England to visit the Powell family and Moorfield Farm.

"Hermann died in 1981 when he was 76-years-old. Birgit was only 14 and too young to have taken him."

Details about Hermann's stay were found in Isobel's diary from 1947.

He would go with Eric to look after the cattle and horses and when Eric was away from the farm at markets, Hermann would help Isobel plant her garden with vegetables and flowers, pick damsons, bag swedes, churn the butter (he made 8lb in one day) and turn the clover.

Every Saturday the army lorry with two soldiers would come to see Hermann to give him 5 shillings, razor blades, a comb and to check he was being looked after.

Hermann would tell Birgit how he enjoyed his time in England with Eric, Isobel, John, Colin and Richard.

Julia is planning a visit to the Christmas market in Gengenbach.