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Children from Belarus experienced a day in the life of a Kent firefighter during a visit to Ashford.

The youngsters, aged 9 to 11, visited the town's fire station for a hands-on tour.

The visit is part of a variety of activities planned by The Chernobyl Children Lifeline charity, which arranged for the children to stay with host families across east Kent for a month.

Belarus was the nation most affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The trip offers the youngsters, who often come from deprived families, the opportunity to experience a different culture, to have fun and provides a chance for their weakened immune systems to recover from the radiation that is still present in Belarus, 22 years after the disaster.

Co-ordinating the trip to the station was firefighter Kerry Mitchell, who said: “It was a real pleasure to host the event for the children and to see them enjoying themselves.

“Their lives have obviously been affected by the Chernobyl disaster and we have been looking forward to giving them the opportunity to visit the station and see the work we do, while having a much-needed day of fun.”

The group’s visit has been organised by Sarah Day, of the Chernobyl Children Lifeline, Ashford and New Romney Link.

The charity brings more than 4,000 children a year to Britain on respite holidays which provide an essential rest from radiation and can extend their lives by up to two years.