A teenager whose grandfather killed himself during his trial after she accused him of rape has written a heartfelt letter to her grandmother asking for forgiveness.

Megan Morrison, 17, gave evidence in court saying she was raped and sexually assaulted by her grandfather Malcolm Harrison, 74, between the ages of eight and 10.

He denied the charges and was later found dead in a burning car in a suspected suicide on the final day of his trial before he could be convicted of any offences.

But Miss Morrison, of Sinfin, Derby, stood by her story, which has resulted in an estrangement with her grandmother Vivienne Harrison, 62.

After bravely waiving her anonymity to speak out about her ordeal, the teenager says she hopes to rekindle her 'strong relationship' with her grandmother.

Communications broke down after the accusations were made and the pair still aren't talking despite numerous attempts from the teenager.

In the emotional note, Miss Morrison tells her grandmother: 'I still love you.'

In the hand-written letter she adds: 'Everything I said was true. I know it's hard to believe because he was your husband. I miss you so much....Please don't hate me.' 'I have written nan a letter telling her that everything I told the police and said in court is true and that this did happen to me.

'I have told her in my letter that I know it is hard for her to believe because he was her husband and I didn't say anything because I didn't want to lose her.

'I love my nan so much and I just want her to believe what happened to me and we can be friends again. I would take her back in a heartbeat.

'He would say to me 'don't tell your mum, this is our little secret'. But when I was 10 I told him if he didn't stop then I would tell someone and the abuse did stop then.'

Mother Vanessa White, who works as a nurse, added: 'When I found out about the allegations, she started crying down the phone saying she didn't want to lose her nan.