AS the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster approaches, two Westbury charities are appealing for people to remember the children who are still suffering from the effects of radiation.

The accident happened on April 26 1986, when a nuclear plant in Ukraine exploded, causing radioactive fallout to drift over the Soviet Union and western Europe, with about 60 per cent landing in Belarus.

Chernobyl Children in Need, which sponsors children in the Belarusian village of Ozarichi, and Chernobyl Children Lifeline, which brings children to the UK for respite visits, have been working for years to improve the lives of those affected by the disaster.

Adrian Walker, chairman of CCIN, said: "The situation is very much the same as it was 20 years ago and there is a huge amount of poverty. "The biggest problem over the years has been iodine which affects the thyroid and causes cancer. These days that is reducing but the effects of other metals like plutonium are now coming to the fore.

There are an awful lot of children in that area who have weak immune systems. In the last couple of years we've had a couple of children die because of leukaemia or kidney failure. "A lot are from poor families and that is why we need sponsorship. If people want to communicate personally with the children they can do through our office, as much or as little as they like.

"We don't just give them money we provide services like arranging for the children to have school dinners or vitamins." The charity is currently working on a project to build new toilets in a school in the village of Kaplichi and is improving sports equipment in an Ozarichi school.

Ann Durbin, CCLL chairman, said she was delighted with the help received over the years, especially from the younger community, but said more must be done to improve the lives of Belarusian children.

"The sad thing is so much is still unknown and the radioactive activity is not responding in a way scientists thought it would. It isn't going to go away in the near future," she said.

She said there was always a need for host families and sponsors and added that every penny goes to the Belarusian children and their families.

A group of children arrived in Wiltshire on Sunday for a month of activities including a trip to Weymouth, a glitter party, dance lessons and a salsa night. In July 20 children, one for each year since the disaster, will be arriving for another visit.

  • For more information about sponsoring children through CCIN contact (01373) 858584. To become a host for visiting children contact CCLL on (01225) 755749.