A FORMER Otley trucker has been thanked by the Polish Ambassador for his 'selfless' response to the Berlin terror attack.

Dave Duncan, who still has lots of family in the town though he now lives in Rotherham, knew he had to do something after seeing the horror of the December 19 attack at a Christmas market unfold on his TV screen.

Hearing of how fellow lorry driver Lukasz Urban had been murdered before his vehicle was hijacked and driven into the market, he decided to set up a fundraising page for the Polish driver's family.

That gofundme site has, to date, brought in more than £195,000 - nearly one million Polish zloty - through contributions from more than 11,000 people.

Mr Duncan's efforts were recognised this week when he was invited to a reception at the Polish Embassy in London by Ambassador Arkady Rzegocki.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Rzegocki said: "I wanted to personally thank Mr Duncan for his selfless initiative.

"His compassion moved many both in the UK and back in Poland.

"It is an inspiring example of British-Polish solidarity which never fails in times of crisis."

On his gofundme page, For The Family of Lukasz Urban, meanwhile Mr Duncan has expressed amazement at how the appeal caught on - and his gratitude to those who have contributed.

He said: "In all honesty, after reading the story like everybody else, and reading about Lukasz and the company he worked for and those he left behind, I felt such empathy - as though he was my workmate or a driver at a company I had worked for.

"I just did it without thinking. It literally took me just ten minutes.

"I never thought for one second it would take off like it did."

In his latest update he explains how the money, and running of the fund, will be passed to Mr Urban's widow, Zuzanna, whom he met when he travelled to Poland to attend the funeral.

Paying tribute to her and the family, he said: "This woman has been to hell and back, but the dignity, courage and strength she showed at her husband's funeral matched that of his own heroic actions.

"The most unassuming, graceful lady I have ever met and the little smile you gave me when we met at Lukasz's grave was worth a million times what I have done.

"Even though the language barriers stopped us, the smile said everything.

"Thank you and your son Adam, also as brave as his father and an absolute credit to you both.

"Thank you, and Lukasz's parents for allowing us to pay our respects. It was an honour."

Thirty seven year old Mr Urban had arrived in Berlin on the morning of the attack, and was later found shot and stabbed to death on the passenger seat of his lorry.

Donations can still be made at gofundme.com/lukaszurban .