A CHARITY is looking for host families to help accommodate child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visiting Wirral for the ‘holiday of a lifetime’ later this year.

A group of youngsters from Belarus will be in the borough from June 1 to 29, on a month-long break away from the radiation still present in their country more than 30 years after the explosion.

The trip is organised by Wirral Link, part of Chernobyl Children’s Life Line (CCLL) and will see the children stay with Wirral people in a bid to boost their health.

Whilst the charity organises lots of daytime activities, children can only visit if there are families for them to stay with for the four-week period when they are here.

Appealing to Globe readers for help, Lynne McGonigle, chair of the Wirral Link, said: "We are looking for new families willing to host one or two Belarusian children for either two or four weeks between June 1 and 29.

"We shall be organising a full programme of activities with trips to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Knowsley Safari Park, ice skating, bowling, street dancing, rollerblading and much more.

"We also take the children, as a group, to an outdoor activities camp for a weekend.

"Our friends at Wirral Metropolitan College provide a number of days of sports and outdoor activities for the children whilst they are here.

"Hosts are simply asked to provide accommodation, meals and care for one or two girls or boys.

"It is a very rewarding experience, which introduces a new member to your family from a difference culture."

The life-changing explosion took place on April 26, 1986, when a failed experiment at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine set fire to the reactor core and blew the top off the building.

The wind carried the radiation cloud north over the border into Belarus where more than 60% of the radiation fell.

The ground was heavily contaminated and will continue to be so for thousands of years.

The poisonous radioactive contamination will remain in large parts of Belarus and Ukraine for thousands of years.

Children are particularly susceptible to radiation induced illnesses and many have leukaemia, cancer of the thyroid and other cancers.

A month in Britain - where they can eat cleaner food, breathe cleaner air and build up strength - can greatly improve life expectancy.

Readers interested in hosting one or two Chernobyl Children can contact Lynne McGonigle by email at lynneccll@outlook.com or by phoning 0151 339 5249.