The Dadswell family from South Nutfield spent a fortnight caring for two children from Belarus as part of the Chernobyl Children Lifeline scheme. It was an experience the family will never forget. GEMMA WHEATLEY reports.

It was an emotional farewell when the Dadswell family said goodbye to two children from Belarus they'd opened up their house to.

Nikita and Ola stayed at the Dadswell's South Nutfield home as part of a month-long health-boosting holiday organised by the charity Chernobyl Children Lifeline.

Fourteen children visited the borough this year and organisers held a leaving party for them before they flew home to Belarus over the August bank holiday weekend.

For Alison Dadswell and her family it was a poignant day as this was the first year they had acted as a host family for the children who were visiting.

Alison found out about the scheme through a friend and decided to find out more.

The family had a few problems with communication at first. "Their English was about as good as our Russian," says Alison. "But it is amazing what you can do with a few facial expressions and a sheet full of pronunciations.

"We actually felt like we wanted to keep them rather than send them back. It was a wonderful experience."

Alison, her husband Jonathan and their three children Anna, 11, Thomas, eight, and three-year-old Harriett, are already thinking about acting as a host family again next year.

Alison says: "I would probably do it again, I think my husband suffered a bit and missed having his dinner cooked for him!

"I would say that it was a lot of work, but it wasn't hard work. We had so many outings, it was really good fun for us as a family as well."

The family have been left feeling very lucky about what they have since the children's visit.

Anna, who is about to start St Bede's School says: "I knew absolutely nothing about them or where they came from before they arrived. It has made me realise that I just have to be grateful for what I have."

Alison added when they arrived their suitcases were laden with presents and they only had about two outfits each for the month-long trip.

Anna says: "I felt horrible when I opened my wardrobe because I have so many clothes."

Many of the children from Belarus come from areas with no running water and surrounded by contaminated land.

Chernobyl Children Lifeline was founded in 1991 and since then over 40,000 children have visited Britain. The charity is looking for host families for next year. A meeting will be held at Micklefield School 8pm next Wednesday, or call 01737 243308.