A reporter from the Skegness Standard travelled to Romania and said it was like “stepping back in time”.

Helen Bell, (23), spent four days in the city of Iasi (pronounced Yash) and its surrounding villages, visiting schools to see readers’ gifts delivered.

She had been invited to see more than 3,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts distributed.

They were donated by Lincolnshire people through the Rotary Shoebox Appeal, and she told HoldtheFrontPage that the trip had brought a few surprises.

She said: “We had two really intense days mainly visitng schools. The villages were really poor, I was shocked.

“Off the roads there were just dirt tracks for miles – it was like stepping back in time.

“The schools were very basic and I even saw a few abacuses, but the children seemed happy and the people were very nice.”

Helen and some of the children with their gifts

Helen was accompanied on the trip by organiser Liviu Statache and host Stanislav Marchitan, who acted as her interpreters as most of the villagers spoke no English.

Stanislav also gave Helen a ‘local’s’ view of the city, and was able to give her an insight into its society, economy and culture.

Helen said: “I did find in the city that people were relatively well-off and there was a contrast with the extreme poor living living alongside.

“Stanislav spoke perfect English – there was nothing he didn’t understand and he actually speaks several languages.

“But I have never had to talk through somebody else before so that was interesting!”

Helen with Liviu (left) and Stanislav

Many of the children who received shoeboxes appeared overwhelmed, staring at the box unsure what to do with it, although some of the older children, who had had gifts before, jumped straight in.

All were grateful though, and burst into song as Helen entered the classroom.

She added: “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was a real experince and they made me feel so welcome. It was quite touching.

“I was treated like an honoured guest, they were so warm and hospitable. They pride themselves on it.”