A Belarusian-born survivor of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster has been appointed to the board of directors of Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International charity.

A 70-year-old widow is preparing to embark on a gruelling 2,500km cycle to raise much-needed funding for children with a congenital heart defect.

A Maine man, who claims to have spent 27 years living in the woods as a hermit, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft in a deal in which he will receive counselling to re-enter society.