Children experience Northumbrian life

The youngsters from Belarus enjoy their cookery classes at Outcook in Alnwick. Picture by Jane Coltman

Youngsters from Belarus have been getting a taste of life in Northumberland.

Their visit was organised by the charity Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, which supports families who are still experiencing the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 30 years ago.

Two 10-year-old boys, from a village in Belarus, near the Polish border, and their translator lived with a family from Netherton Northside First School for a month.

The boys from Belarus in the classroom at Netherton Northside First School.

It gave them a chance to experience new friendships, English family life, healthy food and educational visits.

At the school, they created pictures with oil pastels, which depict the view from the school window.

They will take them back to Belarus as a memento.

Six children were placed in Northumberland for the visit.

Youngsters from Belarus also visited Outcook in Alnwick, where they enjoyed a cookery lesson.

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline has brought more than 46,000 to stay with host families in Britain since the charity started in 1992.