CHILDREN still suffering the effects of radiation poisoning 30 years after the Chernobyl disaster were treated to a day of fun in Soar at intu Braehead.

The team at intu Braehead invited the youngsters after a Scots charity organised for the children to spend three weeks in Scotland to help them cope with life after the horrific nuclear accident, in 1986.

A dozen kids, aged between ten and 12, from the Brest region of Belarus were treated to games at the Paradise Island Adventure Golf and then Laser Station.

They also had lunch at McDonald’s before being able to choose a new pair of shoes from Primark, at the intu Braehead shopping centre.

Every year the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline brings a party of youngsters to Scotland for a respite break staying with families who support the charity.

Gail Macdonald, chairperson of the charity’s Forth Valley branch said:

“It may have been 30 years ago that the Chernobyl disaster happened, but the horrifying effects of its radiation leak are still being felt today and will be for many more generations to come.

“The people, of Ukraine and Belarus are still suffering, none more so than children.

“Scientists say that of all the children born in these countries, 90 per cent will suffer some form of illness or health defect caused by radiation by the time they become an adult. And experts say it will take 1000 years for things to return to normal in the area.”

Gail added: “The children we bring over to Scotland not only have to deal with high levels of radioactive caesium in their bodies, they are also living in abject poverty.

“While they are here, they are free from radiation, eating uncontaminated food and breathing clean air, which means their immune systems are boosted and they’ll have a better chance of survival when they go back home

“The lives of these children couldn’t be any more different from how our kids live here in Scotland.

“We’re very grateful to intu Braehead for giving the youngsters a fabulous day out, which is something they would not be able to enjoy back home.”

Community development manager at intu Braehead, Lydia Brown said: “After all they’ve been through, the youngsters from Belarus deserve a bit of fun in their lives and we’re glad we could give them just that.

“The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline charity is a very worthy cause as they give young people affected by Chernobyl a once in a lifetime experience as well as the chance to allow their bodies to have some respite and help recover from the effects of radiation.”