CONFINED to his sickbed for much of the Second World War, George Woodrough found his own way to make an incredible contribution to the war effort.

As Spennymoor Urban Council's food executive officer, in County Durham, he was responsible for the town's rations, but spent long spells at home crippled with arthritis.

While recovering from an operation, in May 1943, he managed to pick up broadcasts from Jakarta radio station revealing information about Japanese prisoners of war.

Using shorthand, he jotted down the details of every soldier named and sent letters, marked "unofficial", to their homes, telling relatives they were alive and being held captive in Java.

For many families, it was the first news they had of their loved ones for more than a year and confirmed at least that they were still alive.

Mr Woodrough's nieces and nephews had heard stories of how their late Uncle George, who died in 1950, aged 37, gave hope and comfort by writing to families during the war.

But it was only when they discovered boxes of letters from wives and parents sent in response that they appreciated how important his efforts were to the people he contacted.

One letter describes the "wonderful thrill and choking feeling" a wife felt when she received news of her husband and another said it seemed "like a miracle".

A note from Ladywood, in Birmingham, said: "I wanted to thank you so much for the information you sent on to me, you see he is my husband.

"We also have a baby girl who the father has not seen since she was just a month and a few days old.

"That was his last leave home and now my baby is two years and three months old, so you see what this means to us."

To show their gratitude to Mr Woodrough, several families made donations to a charity in his name or sent cheques to be forwarded to a local good cause.

Nephew George Gillham, 59, of Glaisdale, Spennymoor, said: "I was a boy when he died so I only just remember him. The family talked about what he did during the war, but I don't think we appreciated it until reading through these letters. They are so touching they bring a lump to the throat.

"For these people, to all of a sudden hear that their boys were alive after hearing nothing for months must have been incredible.

"Many would not make it home and they were being held as prisoners, but at least they were still alive. That would give them hope for the first time in ages. Imagine that feeling."