Centenarian Hector Duff had a special surprise this Christmas when he received a card and letter from school children in the Netherlands.

Schools in Holland send 400 Christmas cards and messages every year to organisations who then distribute them to veterans of the Second World War.

The card came from a 12-year-old called Meys who thanked him for his service and shared with him their Christmas wish ’that there is no more war in the world’.

Hector said it was a ’nice surprise’ to receive the card and that it is ’marvellous’ that the children are taught about the war and sacrifices made.

He added: ’Whenever we’ve been there, the children always give us something like a letter to thank us and to remember others who fell.’