HOSPITALISED children from a town near Chernobyl now have hot running water thanks to donations from a Swindon builders' merchant.

The Swindon branch of Builder Centre donated three water heaters to Westbury-based Chernobyl Children in Need charity.

They will be installed in the Ozarichi/Gomel region children's hospital near the site of the nuclear accident in 1986.

Adrian Walker, of Chernobyl Children in Need said: "The hospital has had no hot water for a large part of the year."

"The water heaters will make the children's lives more comfortable. We are very grateful to Builder Centre for their kind donation."

The manager of Swindon Builder Centre in Cheney Manor, Michael Davies, said: "We are delighted to be able to help by donating these materials to such a worthy cause."