The children of Chernobyl stepped out for a unique and moving concert in Brentwood last week.

The youngsters, who live in the shadow of the greatest disaster of modern times, took to the stage in their colourful traditional costumes at St. Thomas' Church.

The party of 17 had travelled to Brentwood from the Republic of Belarus which received 75 per cent of the radiation from the Chernobyl disaster on April 26 1986.

It was all smiles as the ten to 16-year-olds played instruments, sang and danced in aid of the church's restoration fund.

But behind their happy faces lies the horrific legacy of the nuclear power station explosion with many of them suffering serious ongoing health problems.

The event was part of a UK tour aimed at raising awareness of the plight of the people of Belarus. The youngsters, who call their folk group Dudariki, spent a week with caring host families in Brentwood and Havering before heading to Salisbury for the next leg of their trip.

The event was organised by the Chernobyl Children Lifeline group.

Chairman Valerie Howard, of Gidea Park, said: "They are all suffering from the effects of Chernobyl. Everything is still totally contaminated - the land, their food and their water.

"There are mounting medical problems. All their immune systems are damaged. There is an unknown quantity because nothing so bad has ever happened before."

The Chernobyl power station is in the Ukraine but lies just four miles from the Belarus border. The wind blew constantly in the direction of Belarus and it is alleged that the huge radioactive cloud was shot at by Soviet chemical troops to stop it moving towards Moscow. Some scientists assess the Chernobyl explosion equivalent to 150 Hiroshimas.

Valerie and her group have been giving holiday breaks to children affected by Chernobyl since 1993. The grandmother-of-five keeps close contact with the 14 youngsters she has welcomed to her own home.

Along with family members Valerie, 60, went to Belarus to see the effects of the nuclear contamination for herself.

She said: "Belarus is not a Third World country. The people are highly intelligent. The children are lovely. Its a poor country because so much has to be spend on clearing up the after effects. People's incomes are appallingly low by our standards.

"I hope that what we do gives the children hope that things can be different."

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Chernobyl Children Lifeline should contact Valerie on 01708 473338.

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