MORE than 120 children from a radiation-contaminated area of the old Soviet Union have enjoyed health-giving holidays in Malvern over the years.

And now, the Malvern group of the Chernobyl Children's Life Line is once again on the lookout for host families in the town for this year's visit.

Ten children from David Gorodok, in what is now the independent nation of Belarus, will be coming to Malvern In June, and organisers need to find them places to stay.

The Chernobyl Children's Life Line was formed to help children living in areas affected by radioactive contamination cause by the infamous nuclear reactor explosion of 1986.

The charity has more than 80 branches across the UK, bringing some 3,000 children a year to this country from Belarus or the Ukraine for healthy holidays.

Dorothy Knights, who has been involved with the Malvern branch since it started, said: "Every year we put out a call for host families, and every year we get a response.

"This year's visit is for four weeks starting on Wednesday, June 8, and we urgently require host families to look after two children for two weeks."

The children will be accompanied by their teacher Olga Trukhonovets, who had been accompanying her charges to Malvern for a number of years now.

Mrs Knights said: "This is the trip of a lifetime for these children. The idea is that by bringing the children here, it gives a boost to their immune systems because they have a respite from the contaminated surroundings they are growing up in.

"Doctors in some of the cancer hospitals in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, believe the children have their life expectancy extended by up to two years."

During the children's stay in Malvern, they are offered a programme of activities and outings. During recent years, the have included visits to the Three Counties Show, tours of the Morgan Motors factory, trips to the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham and sessions of outdoor activities in Blackmore Park.

As well as host families, Chernobyl Children's Life Line is also on the lookout for people who can help in other ways, including fundraising, helping with the activities and day-trips, or supplying transport.

Anyone who can help should call Mrs Knights on 01684 561358 or 07815 314555.