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When most people think of going away for a break, the first place they think of going probably wouldn't be Chernobyl.

But that's exactly where James Gandhorkia from Thurmaston wanted to go.

Ever since the 30-year-old was a teenager he'd always had a fascination with Chernobyl, so when the opportunity to visit came up, he took it.

He travelled with his friend, 28-year-old Natasha Fura who shares his fascination of the history of Chernobyl.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster took place on April 26, 1986 in nuclear reactor number four near the Ukranian city of Pripyat.

Scroll down for gallery of photos

Pripyat was abandoned in the disaster and has been a ghost town ever since.

The town and surrounding area has a range of radiation levels but is considered safe to visit as part of a guided tour.

James and Natasha travelled to Chernobyl last month and were there for two full days of exploring, including staying overnight in the zone itself.

The tour included visiting reactor four - they came within around 100ft from it.

They were amazed at the wildlife that existed there. James said there were "so many wild dogs along with horses deers, bears, wolves and many other animals.

"In the night you could hear the wolves which would send the dogs mad to the point where they would all be barking!

"There were parts of the trip that felt surreal. To think that people had just upped and left the schools and hospitals leaving everything behind.

"It was sad to think that fifty thousand people had to just leave."