A SCHEME to help children from Belarus enjoy a better life could be scrapped unless more North-East families can be found to help.

Children from the region, which was devastated by the Chernobyl explosion in 1986, have been given breaks in the Barnard Castle area of County Durham each summer for the past six years.

The children, many afflicted by leukaemia and other cancers, improve rapidly thanks to the fresh air and good food. Their strength is built up, helping them to make better progress after they return home.

But the project will have to end unless some more Teesdale families can be found to take in a child and mother for a week or two next summer and in future years.

Hazel Yeadon, who has taken in some of the visitors for the past three years at her home in Boldron, near Barnard Castle, said yesterday: "It is wonderful to see the difference a holiday here can make to a Chernobyl child.

"It gives them such a boost that they can cope with life much better when they get home. It will be terrible if we cannot find a handful of kind people to ensure the project goes on."

When a nuclear power plant exploded on the border of Ukraine, it sent tons of radioactive material into the air, and 70 per cent of it blew on to Belarus. Parts of the country will never recover, and the death rate among children is still extremely high.

Hosts who take in Chernobyl visitors are given modest expenses, and other volunteers help by taking the groups for picnics or day-trips.

Mrs Yeadon said: "It takes up a lot of your time, but it is a rewarding experience, especially when you see the good it does and hear about the dreadful conditions these people face in their country."

Anyone who would like to volunteer or to find out more about the project can call her on (01833) 638710.

This summer, seven mothers and seven children had a holiday in Teesdale.

The mothers said through an interpreter when they left that they could all see improvements in their children.

There are now only four host families in the dale, as some of the original group have grown too old or moved away.

About 400 children from Belarus are brought to Britain for holidays each year.