A Charity which brings children on holiday to the West Country needs more volunteer families

A charity which brings children from areas affected by the radiation of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster says it needs more host families in the South West to volunteer to have children stay with them.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster of 1986 remains the worst nuclear power plant accident in history and twenty six years on the effects of the explosion are still felt today by people who live in Northern Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus.

When the Ukrainian nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant exploded, Belarus took 70% of the fallout leaving much of its land still contaminated to this day.

It's impossible to clarify how many people are still feeling the effects of that disaster but the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline says that 26 years later the children they take on holiday are still its victims.

Since Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline was set up in 1991 more than 46,000 children have been brought to the UK from Belarus and Northern Ukraine to stay with host families. Each trip brings around 12 children and the total cost for the whole group is about £5500.

Here in the westcountry the charity has several branches stretching from St Ives to Swindon but says it has a waiting list of children to take on these holidays. They say they desperately need more host families.

The charity says although four weeks may seem a long time to have two children from overseas staying in your home, an itinerary of activities is laid on for you and the children and you can also opt to share the month long stay with another host family.