THE mother of jailed Bournemouth backpacker Daisy Angus says she hopes this will be the last Christmas her daughter spends behind bars.

Daisy, 26, is serving a 10-year jail sentence after being found guilty of smuggling 10kg of cannabis in a secret compartment of her suitcase.

The former Littledown Leisure Centre fitness instructor was stopped by customs officers at Mumbai airport on November 8, 2002, as she caught a flight to Amsterdam on what was supposed to be her dream trip around the world.

Daisy spent four years in jail before hearing of her fate and will have to serve a further six before she is freed.

Her mother Nadine has just returned from India where she managed to see Daisy a couple of times during visits arranged by the British Embassy.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Nadine said: "She is looking well, still holding on in that hell of a place. Her transfer to Pune's jail has been very hard and stressful for her.

"The conditions are very tough and degrading there so it has taken her some time to get adjusted to her new surroundings and abide by the new and stricter rules."

Daisy said her diet has improved since moving to Pune and she is allowed to eat some fruits and vegetables.

Nadine added: "She tries to keep herself busy by looking after the very old women in her cell who need feeding and caring. The rest of her time is spent reading which she loves and is the only thing she is allowed to receive.

"I am so grateful to every one of her old and new friends who have not forgotten her and are sending her all kinds of books and magazines."

In October Nadine, of Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, lodged an appeal with the Indian High Court and is now waiting for a date which is not expected to be much before the summer.

December is not an easy time for the Angus family as Daisy's father John lost his battle with Leukaemia in 2005 and this will be the fifth Christmas she spends away from her family.

Nadine said: "We hope that it will be the last Christmas without Daisy. Everything can be taken away from us but as long as we have faith, hope and love we know that all will be well in the end and this is what keeps us going each day."