OLD fire kit from West Yorkshire is being donated to help woefully under-equipped firefighters in Belarus.

Protective clothing including jackets, helmets, boots and trousers is being sent there via Chernobyl Children in Need.

This is a small charity run by unpaid volunteers who concentrate their efforts on the small township of Ozarichi, just outside the dangerously high radiation zone which has been totally evacuated.

Ozarichi houses some 4,000 people and is full of suffering children.

The charity’s north of England representative, Mick Buxton, said: “Belarus is crippled by the costs of having to pay for the damage caused by the Chernobyl disaster in neighbouring Ukraine. Education, health and the fire and rescue services have taken a serious hit.

“Local firefighters have no decent uniforms, protective or otherwise. Some only have old trainers. The fire station is leaking badly and has no washing facilities or toilet. Should the men wish to eat or sleep, they have to bring their own food and bedding.

“They have three engines, but only two of them work. We are extremely grateful for West Yorkshire’s support.”

Clr Philip Booth, chairman of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said that following the Chernobyl accident tens of thousands of firefighters from across the former Soviet Union went to help and although only 35 died at the time over 17,000 had died since or were retired due to severe disability.

“If our old kit can be of any use to the brave firefighters of Ozarichi and the Kalinkovitch district then we are more than happy to support them,” he added.