An explosion released huge amounts of lethal radiation into the atmosphere, which contaminated the land, air and water for hundreds of square miles.

It continues to do so to this day, and the small country of Belarus, to the north of the Ukraine, suffered immeasurably from the fallout.

Once a huge supplier of food to many of the former communist countries, the explosion and subsequent radiation rendered the land impotent.

Demand for Belarussian food dried up, and the country became progressively poorer and increasingly underdeveloped. With Belarussians unable to afford imported food they were forced to eat food produced on their own contaminated land.

This has led to people, children in particular, building up extremely high levels of radiation in their bodies – which can in turn lead to serious health problems.

Doctors in Belarus identified that if children are taken away from the country for a month and brought to Western Europe, where they can enjoy uncontaminated food and drink and breathe clean air, their bodies build up their immune systems significantly, giving them a better chance of longer life.

Following the Chernobyl disaster, many charities from Western European countries have been set up to offer recuperative holidays for the many thousands of Belarussian children in danger of radioactive poisoning.

These charities bring groups of 'Chernobyl Kids' over to countries like Britain each summer for four weeks of fresh food, fresh air, clean water and a lot of fun!

The Chernobyl Children's Project is one of these charities, bringing around 200 children and teenagers over to Britain each summer, to stay with a number of local groups and supporters.

One such group is based in Llandinam, and hosts 10-12 children and an interpreter each summer. The children stay with families across the Llanidloes, Newtown and Welshpool area.

The group finds suitable host families; matches up children to stay with the host family and organises a series of visits to local attractions and get-togethers over the month-long summer holiday.

The Chernobyl Children are divided into pairs of boys and pairs of girls, typically between 10-16 years old, who stay with one family for the first fortnight and another family for the second.

The Llandinam group is looking for new host families for Chernobyl Kids for this summer, between July 20 and August 17, and are appealing for families or couples in Mid Wales to consider hosting in 2008.

If you're interested in finding out more, contact group coordinator Tony Orme on 01686 430707 or 07773 471245. You can also email awo@aber.ac.uk