TWO small boys who visited Settle thanks to the Friends of Chernobyl's Children desperately need families to stay with this year if they are to join in a return visit in the spring.

Nine-year-olds Vanya and Vladik, both from Belarus where the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster are still being acutely felt, stayed in Settle last year, but due to a change in circumstances they are now without families to host them this year.

The group from Belarus is due to return to Settle from April 18 to May 15 for another life enhancing visit to the clean air and food of the Dales.

Without families to host them the youngsters will miss out, not just on what is an exciting trip for them, but also on the health benefits that a month in Settle brings. It has been found that consecutive visits by the youngsters, taking them away from the contaminated food, water and air in their homeland, can add a year onto their life expectancy.

Conditions in Belarus are so bad that it has been estimated it could take thousands of years for contamination from the Chernobyl disaster to leave the land. On top of this Belarus has also been hit by the Russian economic difficulties, which has further hampered people's efforts to find uncontaminated - and therefore imported - food.

Vanya and Vladik are lively little boys who are physically fairly well, but psychologically need a great deal of love and support. Dierdre Cokell, of the Settle Friends of Chernobyl's Children, said: 'They need a father figure in the family, somebody who will take an interest, take them swimming, play football with them, take them out.

'They are both boys with strong personalities who need quite a bit of discipline. They are not the easiest of children, yet they are very loving.'

The group will be together each weekday of their stay, enjoying a mixture of lessons, activities and trips, from their base at Settle Sports Centre.

Last year was the group's first visit to Settle and it proved a great success, so much so that two of the children, Slava and Sasha, returned for a further private visit to their host families later in the year.

The Friends are now busy fundraising to pay for air fares, transport and group outings. None of the host families receive a penny towards the guest child's keep, it is entirely voluntary.

Anybody who can help Vladik or Vanya should contact the host family co-ordinator, Carol Jones, on 01729 825304.

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