And this Sunday, when 12 Belarus youngsters - who live in the contaminated zone from the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster in 1986 - fly back to Minsk they will take back with them many happy memories of their stay.

More importantly, it is estimated that the visit will have put two years on to their life expectancy thanks to the fresh food and air they have experienced over the past four weeks.

They have been staying in the region courtesy of the Scottish Borders Link of Chernobyl Children Lifeline which has organised families from as far afield as Peebles in the west to St Abbs and Seahouses on the east coast to act as hosts.

The eight girls and four boys, all aged 11, stayed at homes in Duns, Earlston, Ednam, Galashiels, Innerleithen, Jedburgh, Peebles, Seahouses, St Abbs, Tweedbank and Yarrow.

The activities organised for them during their stay included visits to the lifeboats at St Abbs, Galashiels fire station, the Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary at St Boswells, and Jedforest Deer and Farm Park. They also enjoyed a meal at the Kingsknowes Hotel in Galashiels.

In addition, local businesses have rallied round to supply fruit and medicines, with dentists and opticians offering free check-ups.

Their visit will end with a party at Walkerburn Rugby Club tomorrow (Friday) after which the youngsters and team leader Iryna Lukovich will return to their own families.

Iryna, an English teacher on her first excursion with the Chernobyl link, said: "The children have all enjoyed being in the Borders.

The Belarus children enjoying a meal in the conservatory of the Kingsknowes Hotel in Galashiels along with team leader Iryna Lukovich and hotel manager Caroline Lamont