A TOILET block may not be the most appealing present, but for the hundreds of orphans living in the fall-out area of Chernobyl it's something they've always wanted.

Bruce Burton was part of a 50-strong team of walkers who completed the Three Peaks Challenge to raise £53,000 to build toilet and shower blocks in two orphanages in the Ukraine.

The St Albans father-of-two climbed the tallest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales earlier this year and helped raise more than £8,000 towards the ambitious toilet project.

In 2002, the Chestnut Drive resident and five friends set up the charity Soul (Supporting Orphans in the Ukraine to Live) which supports orphanages and poverty-stricken communities in the region.

In April the Soul trustees who include Matt Jones, of Birchwood Way, St Albans set off on their fourth trip to Chernihiv to deliver humanitarian aid and carry out essential work at children's orphanages.

Bruce said: "We took 21,500kg of aid on this trip consisting of clothes, blankets, shoes, soft toys, games, stationery, bicycles, household goods and prams.

"Once we've built all these new toilets, showers and washing facilities we will desperately need toiletries to make it all come together properly."

Borzna, an orphanage for more than 300 children, has no working toilets and children are forced to use an open pit outside.

There is one shower, which is used by both boys and girls aged six to 18.

Ground works have already started in Borzna, where Soul hopes to install 16 washbasins, 12 toilets, 12 showers, three bidets and four leg-washing areas.

Soul expected to see the first toilet and shower suite installed in one of the girls' dormitories by this week.

Bruce was part of a two-lorry convoy, provided by Gist haulage operators, that set off to the Ukraine earlier this year.

He was joined on the 2,000-mile round trip by his friends John Bushby and Graham Wardley from Gist's Hemel Hempstead and Crewe depots.

Bruce said: "We spent the night at Borzna for the first time and really got to know the kids. We chatted a lot and they even put on a concert for us."

Next on Soul's wish list is to start work at Komapobka Orphanage, where the toilets are in a similar state of disrepair. The orphanage houses around 160 children aged from five to 15.

Soul is holding another collection day at Westminster Lodge swimming pool car park on Sunday, July 25, from 9am to 3.30pm. It needs clothes and shoes for children aged six to 18, cuddly toys, stationery, new toiletries and sports equipment.

The group is also looking for volunteers to help out with fundraising activities. To find out you can support Soul, contact Bruce Burton on 01727 766847 or e-mail soul2003@supanet.com for more information.