THE founder of a national charity is visiting west Wiltshire this week to lend his support to a vodka tasting event.

Victor Mizzy is the chairman and founder of the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline charity which gives children from Belarus the chance to come to this country for holidays and respite care.

Belarus was badly hit by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 17 years ago, which covered the country with high levels of toxic radiation that is still causing cancer in children today.

The Westbury branch is holding a vodka tasting evening at the Leigh Park Hotel tonight, which Mr Mizzy will attend.

Another Westbury charity, Chernobyl Children in Need, is also supporting the event. Its role is to send humanitarian aid to a Belarussian village Ozarichi, where the charity is helping to rebuild schools and hospitals.

The organisers of the two charities came up with the idea for a vodka tasting when they realised they had several bottles of Belarussian vodka they had been given on trips there.

Prizes will be given to people who can tell which is the genuine Belarussian vodka.

Anyone who wants to get last minute tickets should contact Chernobyl Children's Lifeline in Westbury on (01373) 827799.