CHILDREN from Chernobyl have just finished a month of fun events - thanks to the generosity of people in the Leigh area.

Nine children, aged between four and 14, came to the UK through the efforts of Medicine & Chernobyl (Culcheth), a group launched last November by caring mum Barbara Priestman.

She first started the scheme in Leigh three years ago after watching a television programme about a young boy who had come to the UK for surgery. She contacted the group responsible for bringing the child over and set up her own branch from her home in Cavendish Street, Leigh.

This year the party included a group of five children, aged between four and seven, from an orphanage in Belarus.

That is in an area of Chernobyl that received more than 70 per cent of the fall-out.

The children have stayed with host families in the area, enjoying trips to the Water Place in Bolton, Chester Zoo, and a day or horse riding at the Mavita Riding School in Westhoughton.

Youngsters from the school donated their unwanted toys for the children of Chernobyl.

Barbara said: "I can't thank people enough for their generosity."

Anyone who can help with further fund-raising or activities for the next group in the year 2000 should contact Barbara Priestman on 01942-676627.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.