A coffee morning due to be held on October 21 will mark the start of a 5,000 appeal to fund a holiday for youngsters growing up in the shadow of the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster.

Many of the children have weak immune systems as a result of contamination after the plant blew up in 1986.

Janice Chilton, of Bright- well-cum-Sotwell, said: "It means that a minor childhood illness can become critical, if not fatal." Her's was one of the host families for nine children who visited the Didcot area this summer.

Ruth Rothery, of Didcot, who organised the holiday through the charity Medicine and Chernobyl, said medical research had shown the children benefited greatly from a few weeks' fresh air and healthy food.

This year was the first time the Didcot group, many of whose members are from Didcot's Ladygrove Church and Didcot Baptist Church, took part in the holiday project.

Mrs Chilton is launching the fundraising with a coffee morning at her home in Fairthorne Memorial, Brightwell, on Saturday at 10.30am.

Other events will be ann- ounced after the Didcot and District Medicine and Chernobyl meeting on November 6. Call 01235 813567 for details.