A CHARITY has made an urgent appeal for host families from South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire for vulnerable children.

The Chernobyl Charity are looking for families to host the children this summer for a minimum of two weeks.

They aim to find host families for 16 children from the Osipovichi district of Belarus for a month’s respite break away from poor air quality in their region.

Children they help were left at risk following a nuclear disaster there in April of 1986. The charity has estimated that one month spent staying with families here to eat nourishing food and breathe clean air free from radiation can add up to two years to their life expectancy.

On behalf of the charity a spokesman said: “Their people will be forever affected by the legacy of the world’s worst nuclear disaster – the radioactive fallout was nearly 400 times greater than the bombs dropped in 1945 on Hiroshima & Nagasaki combined.

“The World Health Organisation has classified 500,000 of the children in Belarus as being at risk - or put another way - only 6 per cent of the children are considered healthy.”

The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline charity was established by Victor Mizzi M.B.E. in 1992 and this year celebrates their 25th anniversary.

Any host families who get involved are offered a comprehensive network of support by the charity.

Whilst here the children will also take part in lots of planned activities that organised by the charity - ranging from sports, to arts events, and coach trips to the seaside and countryside. They also have two interpreters available to help with communication.

For more information call Andy March on 07812 159942, or visit their website at www.ccll.org.uk/bristol or Facebook Page @ccllbristol.