CHILDREN who live near a city that was devastated by a nuclear reactor disaster visited Knutsford last week.

Thirty-eight youngsters from Belarus spent time at Gauntlet Falconry Centre, in Manchester Road, to learn about birds of prey.

The children are currently staying with host families in Merseyside as part of a six-week visit.

But the kids, many of whom are in remission from leukaemia or cancer, also spent a week at Terra Nova School, near Jodrell Bank.

Graham Bessant, owner of Gauntlet, told the Guardian he was delighted to be involved as trips to the UK can help boost the children’s immune systems.

He said: “They come from such a destroyed environment that it just batters their health.

“The area is still contaminated in many respects. It’s quite scary. Living in a clean environment for six weeks can extend their life.”

On April 26, 1986, the fourth reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, exploded.

Almost 25 years later, radiation poisoning is still a major concern.

Children who live near Chernobyl often go on recuperative holidays in the UK in the summer as this is when the dust causes radiation levels to rise.

Doctors say a few weeks of fresh air and clean food significantly reduces the amount of radioactive caesium in the body.

“It’s so humbling,” added Graham.

“I’ve got three children and my kids came and assisted with the events.

“They saw how lucky they are to live where they live.

“It was great as there was also an interpreter so that was interesting and different for us.”

The children had never seen birds of prey before and were able to handle them and watch them fly at the Gauntlet centre.

Graham said: “They loved it and they got really involved. Roger, the eagle owl, is always a favourite but they also loved the hawks and vultures.

“It was a pleasure to see their faces as they had no pre-conceived ideas about what to expect.”