THIRTEEN young children are enjoying a recuperative break in Devon this month. The youngsters come from Belarus, an area still feeling the effects of the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl, April 1986. Up to 70% of the radioactive material released in the explosion settled on Belarus. The land remains contaminated and as a result, thousands are born every year or go on to develop thyroid cancer, bone cancer and leukaemia. The Chernobyl Children's Life Line supports children and families by bringing them to Britain for a holiday, which is said to increase a Chernobyl child's life expectancy. Last Thursday, the children of Chernobyl joined a Dartmoor walk lead by ranger Tony Burges, returning afterwards to the Two Bridges Hotel where they enjoyed a splendid dairy-free tea, cakes and apple juice. The respite holiday is supported yearly by Commandery of Avalon of The Military, Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, the Rev Louis Baycock, the commander of the Commandery of Avalon, and The Two Bridges Hotel. As an added bonus this year, Sue Johnson from Ivybridge Foodbank gave a soft toy to each of the children. Barbara Baycock, the hospitaller of the Commandery of Avalon, said: 'They say a month in our clean air, eating good food, and healthy exercise prolongs their life for two years, and the Dartmoor walk is just one of the events during their stay. 'We have contributed financially for eleven years to help them and we thought it would be nice to do something practical, and the Two Bridges Hotel has very kindly provided the tea for free.' Julien Wilkinon, manager of the Two Bridges Hotel, said: 'It's been a pleasure to work with the group over many years and the Two Bridges Hotel hopes to continue to support it in the future. 'It's always a pleasure to greet the children, and their carers, who are so enthusiastic to see the beautiful sights of Dartmoor, and an honour to serve them the cream teas.' Anyone who would like to support this worthy cause should contact Vanessa Donoghue on [email protected]">[email protected] l The children are pictured above at the Two Bridges Hotel near Princetown, with visit organisers and Dartmoor guide Tony Burges.