A group of children from Chernobyl have been given a summer holiday thanks to families in Gravesend.

North Kent charity Concern for Chernobyl Children has been giving groups of children holidays in the UK for the past 26 years.

During their stay, the children visited Diggerland and Keith Wyncoll of Jugnu Bhangra Group arranged a tour of the Gurdwara in Gravesend.

Chairman of the group Karen Kilcullen said there has been an increase in childhood cancers, thyroid damage, chest infections, eye sight problems, respiratory difficulties and anemia in children living near the power plant which exploded on April 26, 1986.

She said: "The children have inherited a terrible, tragic legacy: they live, drink, eat, breathe and sleep radioactive chemicals. Without our help, these children have no hope and no future: let's show them that we care.

"Staying with host families and receiving good food has been found to give them immunity for up to two years.

"Several of the children on the current visit had liver pain when they arrived in Gravesend but already the pain has subsided."

During this visit they joined in with Sikh children who were learning the harmonium and tabla drums.

They eat in the 'langar' (community kitchen) and in return sang a Russian folk song for the volunteers making chappatis.