THIRTEEN youngsters whose lives were blighted by the Chernobyl nuclear power station accident enjoyed a canal trip from Mirfield.

The youngsters were brought over from Belarus by the Leeds branch of the Chernobyl Children's Project.

They spent a day on the water, travelling up to Cooper Bridge from Shepley Bridge Marina at Mirfield, courtesy of the Safe Anchor Trust charity.

The trip was the fifth staged by volunteers from the Safe Anchor Trust, which provides narrowboat excursions for charities.

The trip was part of a three-week holiday, organised by the CCP, which raises about £130,000 a year to bring to Britain children who are suffering the after-effects of the world's worst nuclear power accident.

A nuclear reactor at Chernobyl in the Ukraine, which borders Belarus, exploded in April, 1986, showering radiation across the immediate locality and much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Scores of adults and children have contracted cancer as a result of the nuclear fallout.

Elena Buivid, a teacher and translator who accompanied the children on their visit to Britain said: "The effects of the tragedy will be felt for a long, long time.

"Lots of children had cancer or now have cancer. It is thought that a holiday adds two years to the life expectancy of the children.`'

She added: "This is my third trip to Britain.

"When I see children at the end of the trip compared to the beginning there is a big difference. Some are reserved, then come out of their shells.

"They look more fresh. Their complexions are more clear and they have a light in their eyes.

"Their parents see a difference."

The teenagers said they all found England "super" and "great". Oksana Bulash, 13, said: "It's pretty, I like it. It's similar to on TV."

Tanya Pighul, 14, said she had enjoyed watching a rugby league match. She was also looking forward to the canal trip as they did not have them in Belarus.

Dasha Valento, 13, said: "I'm enjoying my holidays very much and having a lot of fun.

"I'm meeting a lot of very interesting people."

Luda Zaikovskaya, 17, said: "It's very interesting, because England is different to Belarus. Belarus is also very interesting and historical and there are a lot of nice places."