A CHARITY based in Westbury is sending a lorry load of aid to Chernobyl this week.

Chernobyl Children in Need is dedicated to helping villagers in Ozarichi, a community in Belarus, just outside the exclusion zone set up after the 1986 nuclear disaster.

In the last year the charity has paid for a new toilet block for the village school, and provided shoes for the 650 school-age children in the village.

The charity has sent two lorries of aid to the village, and plans to send a third today filled with equipment for the hospital, in-cluding water heaters donated by the Builder Center, Swindon. Also among the aid are toys and exercise books for the special needs school.

Charity chairman Adrian Walker said: "The response to our appeals for goods has been fantastic.

"We already have a lot to put in the next lorry.

"It is very hard to keep up with all the offers of equipment I get every day.

"In the last three days alone I have been promised two tonnes of wall tiles, six pallets of exercise books, washing machines and beds."

The charity is still desperate for people to sponsor a child for just £10 a month.

Mr Walker says there are about 30 children in Ozarichi who suffer from the long-term effects of the deadly radiation.

He said: "With that £10 we can ensure they get hot meal at school every day, and vitamin supplements.

"We can also do food drops as and when they need it."

Anyone who is able to sponsor a child or help is asked to contact Mr Walker on (01373) 858584.