TWO Weardale sisters had a life-changing experience when they visited orphans affected by the Chernobyl disaster, in Belarus.

Ruth Atkinson, 26, who now lives in London, and her sister Gemma, 18, from Harperley Hall, in Weardale, enrolled on a 12-day placement at a summer camp in the Ptich Gompl region of Belarus, close to Chernobyl.

Every summer, 120 Belarusian children with special needs leave their orphanages to enjoy three weeks of fun at a holiday camp.

The sisters worked with children who have been affected by the after-effects of the nuclear disaster in 1986.

Ruth, who works as a script supervisor, produced a DVD of the summer camp and the experience touched her and her sister so much that they decided to revisit the children at their orphanages earlier this month.

"It was an amazing experience and it really puts things into perspective when you see the children," said Ruth.

"Some of the children were so happy to get a few minutes of attention. It's very emotional.

"A lot of the children we saw were too ill to go to the summer camp, but they absolutely loved watching the DVD we made and really enjoyed getting their photos taken.

"It was such an experience helping those less fortunate than myself and it's changed my perspective on things."

For more information, visit www.chernobyl-children.org.uk