A CHARITY that looks after children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is appealing for help to support a disabled mother.

The Friends of Chernobyl's Children bring youngsters from the Mogilev region of Belarus to Britain for a short break to improve their life expectancy and provide some holiday fun.

The charity's Northallerton branch, in North Yorkshire, wants to help the mother of seven-year-old Olga, who will be visiting this summer.

Her mother is wheelchair bound after a childhood accident and lives on the fourth floor of a block of flats. The charity is hoping that someone with an unused self-propelled lightweight wheelchair will donate it to help her be more mobile.

The Northallerton group's co-ordinator, Audrey Trew-hitt, said: "There is a lift in the flats but it is often broken and they do not get it mended. She has a wheelchair, but it is old and uncomfortable and she can't get herself around in it.

"We do not feel, as a charity, that we should buy a wheelchair because our money is for the children and we should be spending the money on them."

Mrs Trewhitt and host co-ordinator Val Ingleton are flying to Belarus on May 6 to visit the 12 children who are travelling to the North-East on June 11, and would like to be able to hand over a wheelchair when they arrive.

Anyone who has a suitable chair is asked to call Mrs Trewhitt on (01609) 773969.