YOUNGSTERS affected by cancer took a tour around RNLI New Brighton's Lifeboat Station last week.

The 15 children, from Belarus, toured the lifeboat station on Thursday, June 13 on a visit organised by Chernobyl Children's Lifeline (CCLL) and Morrisons.

Belarus is believed to be the republic most affected by incident in April 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant - more than 70% of the republic affected by the radioactive fallout.

As a result of this, thousands of children are born each year – or go on to develop – thyroid cancer, bone cancer and leukaemia.

Part of a day of entertainment the children, aged nine to 12, spent around an hour learning about the work that the charity does.

After a face-painting session at Morrisons' New Brighton store, the children then toured the station and enjoyed a talk from the volunteer crew who talked them through how a lifeboat and tractor works plus gave them an up-close look at drysuits, lifejackets and helmets.

RNLI helm Jay Hennessey said: "As a lifeboat station we’re always enthusiastic about hosting parties of children on visits, but this one touched us all.

"With so many of us parents ourselves, from lifeboat crew to shop volunteers we couldn’t do enough for them.

"The boys and girls all seemed to enjoy their time with us whether at the lifeboat, tractor or trying on our crew kit.

"That makes it special for us too."

Donations by RNLI volunteers saw the children leave with a gift to remember their time at the boathouse.

Each child also received a polo shirt and fleece embroidered with the RNLI New Brighton logo and a representation of the inshore lifeboat while shop volunteers contributed RNLI caps and wind-up torches, as well as a goody bag with stationery items, badges and stickers.

Around 12 members of Seacombe's Riverside Primary School choir who sang for everyone at the RNLI boathouse, also went home with a goody bag courtesy of RNLI shop volunteers and Morrisons.