A FRENCH soldier today relived the night he helped a teenage Blackburn squaddie escape the Nazis in a terrifying World War Two invasion.

Andr Buzin, 78, was living in Bthune, north of Bordeaux on the west coast of France, during the conflict and welcomed Charlie Jones into his home for three weeks in Christmas 1939.

And his appeal in the Evening Telegraph to find the young soldier he helped has resulted in Charlie's daughter, Barbara Thompson, 60, coming forward.

Barbara, of Beatrice Place, Blackburn, has also unearthed letters and photographs sent between the two men - and revealed to Andr the "full life" her father was able to lead thanks to his help.

Dad-of-two Charlie, who had five grandchildren, died suddenly on Father's Day 18 years ago, aged 68, a year after retiring. He lived at Wellington Street, Accrington, and had worked in a moulding shop and Huncoat power station.

Speaking from Bezier in France, Andr, recalled the events of 1939 when, after three years of mounting tension, Hitler's forces invaded Poland on September 1.

Three days later, the Allies declared war on Germany and British troops were on the continent for Christmas.

He said: "We were asked by the mayor to welcome three soldiers in to our farm for Christmas. My mother agreed and I spent the time with Charlie, teaching him how to drive and maintain the tanks in the garage. I was only 14.

"But one night, the Germans sneaked up the river in kayaks. They hid in the bushes but when we realised I helped Charlie get to Bordeaux by train where he could get a boat to safety.

"I was captured by the Germans and was a prisoner. When I returned my family were dead, two sisters and my mother. It was a dangerous time."

He went on: "It is sad to hear Charlie died but it is also very good news to hear he has gone on to be happy. I so wanted to hear from him again."

The Nazi advance gathered pace after that Christmas and France signed an armistice on June 22, 1940. The country remained occupied until August 1944 - when Andr was finally released.

Charlie was an artillery soldier in the war. He later married Olive Jones, now 87, of Oswaldtwistle, when he was 21.

Barbara added: "He didn't often talk about the war because I think he saw a lot of things he didn't want to repeat. But he loved his time with Andr in France. He used to come out with French phrases a lot and we never really knew where they were from.

"I was clearing out some cupboards and found this bundle of letters and photographs from France. It is a shame my dad is not still alive to be reunited with Andr but at least he knows Charlie lead a full and happy life."

The letters are dated between January and December 1945. They are addressed to Charlie and signed from Your Friends of France.

They request news from Charlie and invite him to spend more time in Bthune as well as detailing the relief of the four-year occupation coming to an end.