A GROUP of children from Chernobyl have been making the most of a visit to the region.

The 12 Ukrainian children are from Chernihir, about 45 miles from Chernobyl, where a major accident took place at the nuclear power plant in April 1986.

The youngsters, many of whom may suffer from the effects of radiation exposure later in life, arrived ten days ago and are staying with families in Weardale, Bishop Auckland and Durham until the end of the month.

The children and their supervisor, Natasha Balyura-Yerko, have been visiting some of the region's best-known attractions.

Miss Balyura-Yerko, said: "We have done many many activities. The children are spending some time with their host families and some time as a group, so they have seen quite a lot. The families have tried to show us as many things as possible. The children are really enjoying it. They love eating the food here, because a lot of the food in the Ukraine can be contaminated.

"I think everyone's favourite thing was Diggerland, because everyone, even the adults, became little children again."

On Wednesday afternoon, there was a party in Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland.

The food was provided by Mary Hayton, co-owner of the Hamsterley Forest Tea Rooms. She said: "I've read things about the children coming over before and this year I wanted to do something for them."

The children, aged between six and 13, were forced to play indoors because of the heavy rain.

One of the organisers of the visit, Gwen Branwell, said: "Having the children over here gives them an opportunity to experience things which they wouldn't be able to experience back home.

"We've taken them to swimming baths, and for one girl it was the first time she had ever been swimming. Even things like being driven around in a car is an experience for some of them.

"All the 11 families that host the children have been wonderfully helpful and they are loving it."