HOST families are being sought for children still suffering from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 24 years-ago.

A party of youngsters aged ten and 11 is heading for Teignbridge and south Devon for the first two weeks of July and the organisers would like to hear from anybody who can put up two of them.

It costs about £500 to bring over each child for a welcome holiday, and a fundraising concert of popular music will be given by the Torbay Police Choir at Teignmouth United Reformed Church on Tuesday, May 4, at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available at £5 from Graham and Rosemary Smith, of Teignmouth, on 01626 779398. They will also be able to give full details of the hosting scheme.

The holiday helps the children's immune system, which can prolong their life.

A government official in Belarus recently reported that only about 25 per cent of its children have full health. About 260,000 still live on contaminated land.