SIXTEEN children from Belarus tucked in to a pizza meal shortly after arriving for a four-week holiday with East Lancashire families.

The seven to 10-year-olds were treated by Pizza Hut, Blackburn.

The visit has been organised by Blackburn-based Friends of Chernobyl's Children, which was formed five years ago to help improve the health of children whose health was damaged by the after-effects of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986.

Director of the charity Mrs Olwyn Keogh said there were 21 groups around the country working under the banner and this year more than 400 children will have enjoyed holidays in this country.

More than 80 per cent of Belerus was covered in fall-out from the nuclear plant.

Anyone who wants to know about the charity's work should ring 01245 248966.

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