A KIND-HEARTED family are appealing for help in making Christmas extra special for a group of Russian youngsters.

Mrs Wendy Feast and husband Jed have played host to more than 20 children from the Ukraine and the area around Chernobyl since reading about the plight of less fortunate children in 1993.

And for the first time, this year five young girls from ordinary families who live in Rybinsk, central Russia, will spend Christmas with them.

Mrs Feast, who has three children of her own, said: "We always ask organisations to help us out with days out for the youngsters when they come over.

"As it will be Christmas Eve when these youngsters arrive, it would be brilliant if we could give them some small presents. We would be grateful for any help with gifts. But they would have to be small enough to fit on the return flight."

Mrs Feast said she would also appreciate it if a local company might be able to make a 12-seater mini-bus available for when the girls, aged between eight and 11, arrive at Manchester airport.

Some of the youngsters will stay with the family in Holly Street, Blackburn, and some with family and friends.

Among the highlights of the youngsters' six-week stay in England will be a Christmas party donated by Blackburn's Alphabet Zoo indoor play centre.

Mrs Feast added: "We are not special people. Doing this simply takes a lot of love and a lot of patience."

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