A holiday in Billericay is just the medicine for a group of 10 children from Belarus who are still affected by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion years after the blast.

The reactor exploded in 1986 but Belarus families are still suffering the effects so a new Billericay charity, Chernobyl Children Lifeline, has been formed to give them a break from their hardship.

Lifeline chairman and Billericay resident David Gladstone joined the charity four years ago when he lived in Swanage but has now opened a branch here.

The charity plans to bring 10 children, aged 11 to 13 years, from Belarus to stay in Billericay in June.

Belarus, near the Ukraine border and only miles from the nuclear reactor, is still badly affected by contamination.

The children suffer from leukemia and thyroid cancer and the adults are plagued by cancer, depression, alcoholism and physical abuse.

Mr Gladstone said: "The children that were young at the time of the fall out are now 16 or 17 years old and are beginning to see signs of lung cancer and tumours.

"Up to 80 per cent have some form of illness with their immune system, colds and growth problems. It's not always cancer."

Just four weeks in the UK over summer makes all the difference to the children's health and attitude, Mr Gladstone said.

The Lifeline is looking for host families to take in the children during their stay in Billericay.

He said: "We take them out during the day and bring them back every evening and on weekends the host families are responsible for the children."

The Lifeline hopes to raise £5,000 by the end of May to cover costs associated with bringing the children to the UK.

For more information call David Gladstone on 01268 520131.

Published Wednesday, March 6, 2002