Children growing up in contaminated parts of Eastern Europe following the Chernobyl disaster are still being brought to the North West to get respite from the fallout.

Glossop-based charity Chernobyl Children's Project (UK) provides four-week long holidays for youngsters who have grown up in areas of Belarus affected by the nuclear disaster.

Linda Walker, who set up the charity in 1995, says many of these children live in tiny rural villages, some just a few miles from the Chernobyl plant.

Though they may not yet be ill, their future remains bleak if they continue to live in such a radioactive environment.

Doctors in Belarus also say that a four-week holiday in the UK can boost children's immune systems for at least two years.

This helps them resist or recover from any serious illness.

(Image: Chernobyl Children's Project (UK))

The breaks also benefit older teenagers who may be in remission from cancer - as it provides a good escape for them following their treatment.

As a result Linda, and other volunteers started to host the recuperative holidays for the youngsters here in the North West.

Thousands of children have been helped by CCP over the years, and some of those Linda herself has helped still stay with her today.

Among them is Petya who was born three years after the accident and has severe cerebral palsy.

His father, a liquidator, died around ten years ago and Petya now lives in an institution where the charity provides extra support for him.

(Image: Chernobyl Children's Project (UK))

The Chernobyl disaster has gained widespread attention in recent weeks following the five-part HBO drama on the incident.

The catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986, in the No. 4 nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat near the Ukrainian/ Belarus boarder.

A series of steam explosions exposed a reactor core and led to a huge fire at the power plant which sent plumes of highly radioactive dust into the atmosphere which caused radioactive fallout over nearby Pripyat. The plumes also drifted over large parts of the western Soviet Union and Europe.

The number of people killed as a result of the blast is unknown - but it could be in the thosuands.

Many more have been affected.

Linda, who visits the country three or four times a year, said she realised that children who developed cancer and disabilities as a result of the blast were in specific need of support.

And she said that parents who gave birth to babies who were disabled were encouraged to give them up.

Linda added: "There was an eighty per cent of the children born with disabilities. Attitudes are changing but there are still lots of children with health problems."

As well as bringing children to the UK, CCP also delivers aid to those still living there today.

(Image: Chernobyl Children's Project (UK))

Each summer, the charity sends volunteers to Belarus to run their holiday camps and respite centres as well as provide education on disabilty.

Linda says the HBO Chernobyl drama has led to an interest in the disaster - and the work charities are still doing in the aftermath.

"It [the show] brought it to life so vividly," Linda said.

"It was clear that it was so well researched as it was an accurate portrayal.

"It was so vivid and realistic which made it so moving to watch."

Linda says that the charity is receiving a lot more interest - from people wanting to host children themselves, donate and just find out about their work.

(Image: Chernobyl Children's Project (UK))

"We have had far more messages than we have had in a long time," she added.

"Most people had no idea what a serious accident it was and what impact that has had. The drama has made people understand what it was about."

But that interest needs to continue.

Linda says that they are always looking for more people who want to volunteer out in Belarus during the summer as well as those who can get involved with the Glossop-based group.

For more information on the charity and how you can get involved, visit chernobyl-children.org.uk .