CALLINGTON firefighters are appealing for funds and host families so that children from Chernobyl can continue coming to the UK for holidays which have a dramatic effect on their health.

Over the past few years, the crew at Callington has been heavily involved in the Chernobyl Children's Life Line, a charity which since 1991 has brought 45,000 Ukrainian children to the UK for up to a month.

Last Friday saw the fire station host a fun day for ten girls, aged from 9 to 12, from Chernobyl, with activities, including riding in classic cars, smashing plates, meeting birds of prey and enjoying candy floss and a barbecue.

Hundreds of pounds have been raised by the crew over the years, which also helps to pay for vital dental treatment for the children.

Radiation from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — the site of an explosion in 1986 — continues to cause health problems in children, namely slow development, poor dental health and immune disorders.?The children have a ten times higher than normal rate of thyroid cancer.

Chairman of the North Cornwall branch of the charity Terence Voysey said: 'The objective is not so much a holiday as recuperation. They get plenty of fresh air, clean food, see the dentist and have jolly good fun in the bargain.'

Children stay with host families during their trip to England and the charity is always looking for new families in the area.

Mr Voysey said: 'We are so grateful for the support of the Callington firefighters and all the local businesses and charities that help in this fun day.

'The charity relies on donations but the most important thing we need is host families.

'It is a big thing for children of that young age to leave their parents and come here for four weeks, feeling like they have flown halfway around the world and not speaking the language. Good host families make all the difference.'

He said even though the children were relatively healthy now, the sad reality was that most of them would go on and develop cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

'It has been proven that three or four weeks in the UK normally extends the lifespan of these children by up to two years.

'These children live just outside the exclusion zone of the disaster and some of them are carers for family members who are suffering cancer as a result of the radiation.

Firefighters have always been involved in the Chernobyl Children's Life Line charity, which was set up to help the families of firefighters who died in the 1986 incident and other children affected. Since the disaster, there is little employment and poverty is rife.

Watch manager Hewie Hewitson said: 'We fundraise every year and give presents to the children to take back home. It is nice to give something back, even though it is to a community other than our own.

'We would like to raise money to pay for ongoing dental treatment and hope that by raising the profile of what we do, people will come forward and donate.'

Children were presented with gifts by Callington mayor and portreeve Jeremy Gist. A basket of flowers was also given to interpreter Olga Aryshtouych, who said: 'Every day is so interesting for the children, it is fantastic, magical and just look at their faces, they are very very happy.'

If you would like to host a child from Chernobyl contact Terence Voysey on 01208 77689 or to make a donation visit Callington Fire Station between 7pm and 9pm on Mondays.