Children's swimwear and swimming armbands are among the items a group of kids from Belarus are likely to need during their trip to Lancashire.

The youngsters are heading over next month to stay with 20 families for a month, according to the Clitheroe Advertiser.

Spending four weeks away from their home, which is 15 km from the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, apparently gives them significant health benefits.

The annual trip, organised by the Friends of Chernobyl's Children (FOCC) charity, also allows British families to sharpen their Russian language skills with the help of two interpreters.

During their stay, a trip to a swimming pool has been pencilled in, along with jaunts to tourist attractions.

The kids return home having had treatment from local doctors and with food, clothes and gifts. It is intended they return to see their host family for five consecutive years to build strong bonds.

FOCC was set up in 1994 and has 26 groups across the UK.ADNFCR-3005-ID-19623041-ADNFCR