A charity helping children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster has thanked the business that gave them a new base for its containers used to collect valuable aid.

Chernobyl Children in Need, of Westbury, had been looking for a new home for its two 20ft containers, after Comet announced its distribution centre in Quartermaster Road, on the West Wilts Trading Estate, where the containers have been for the last two years, was to close in August.

Haulage and distribution company F&S Gibbs Transport, which has been running in Warminster for 55 years, offered a space at one of their distribution yards in Furnax Lane and on Friday the charity sent out its first aid from the site.

Adrian Walker is chairman of CCIN, who send two humanitarian loads to Belarus each year, said: “Twenty volunteers came together at Gibbs transport to load the containers bound for the poor, sick and disadvantaged children in Ozarichi, which is only 35 miles from the radioactive exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor.

“The group included four soldiers from the Warminster Garrison and Mark Gibbs and his fork-lift truck.

“The job was completed within an hour-and-a-half and the container went on its way.

“Chernobyl Children in Need thanks everyone concerned for another successful loading, our 28th.”

If you would like to sponsor a Belarusian child through the charity, call Mr Walker on 01373 858584.