CHILDREN treated to a whirlwind North Yorkshire welcome gave a show-stopping farewell yesterday.

Ten children from Belarus took part in a performance Northallerton Town Hall yesterday, which included singing and a play which the youngsters performed in English.

The children, aged between seven and 13, have been staying with families in Northallerton for the past four weeks.

They come from the region blighted by the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago, where forests and farmlands still remain contaminated.

The same group of children will make a total of three visits over three years, which should give their immune systems a boost and reduce the risk of illness associated with radiation exposure. While in North Yorkshire, the youngsters were taken to Lightwater Valley, the Forbidden Corner and many other attractions for free. They also visited dentists, doctors and opticians. Now they are due to return home to Belarus on Monday.

Linda Spence, from the Northallerton group of Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, said: "The community has been amazing, they’ve really rallied around the children.

"Shops in the town have donated presents such as trainers for the children and there have been lunches made or donated for virtually every day of their stay.