WHEN Olga Buckacheva was two-year-old her world literally blew apart as the giant nuclear reactor at Chernobyl exploded in April 1986.

But the villagers of Edenfield are helping to rebuild her life.

The explosion sent a deadly cloud of seven tonnes of radioactive material over Olga's village of Mogilov in Belarus - some 120 miles away from the disaster.

Tests showed that Olga had developed an enlarged thyroid as a result of her exposure to the massive dose of radiation. Doctors said the condition could affect her in later life.

Following a visit to England three years ago, the little girl was "adopted" by Freda and Gordon Hill from Woodlands Road in Edenfield.

Since then the couple have been campaigning to make Olga's trips to England more frequent and regular. They funded a trip to the country last year and enlisted the help of the village.

This week their dream and Olga's dream, came true. After joining forces with the Coach and Horses pub and the Rostron Arms, and securing sponsorship from local engineering firm Fastnet they raised £1,032.

Mrs Hill said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed and Gordon, Olga and I would like to thank all who so kindly contributed to make Olga's dream come true. We will try and bring her back next year.

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