When Mark Townsley answered an SOS call to help an orphanage in Belarus, he never imagined he would come face to face with such poverty.

The 26-year-old site manager at Southdale Homes, currently working for Manningham Housing Association, was asked to help in the refurbishment project by a charity working with the Chernobyl Children's project.

Mark said: "It was heart-breaking. It affected me a lot even though I tried to not to get too emotionally involved."

Because of the proximity of Chernobyl to the orphanage, Mark imagined some of the 200 youngsters, aged between seven and 17, would be deformed.

"It wasn't that bad but obviously there was a lot of poverty," he said.

The shower facilities were so bad there was only one that worked and the water was icy cold.

Mark said: "In winter the temperatures fall to about minus 30 degrees but incredibly the children still go out and have showers."

The site manager, who lives in Leeds, offered to help and said it was because he wasn't married with children that he was chosen.

"I think they thought that someone with children would get too upset. It was upsetting anyway, though. I had tried to get my head round the situation - there was a video about the conditions."

Mark went to the village of Zytkavick near Minsk to assess the amount of work that would be needed and to give his professional expertise.

He will return in September with a small team who will actually carry out the work. Mark will be supervising the refurbishment of the shower facilities and the building of a laundry.

The orphanage is also used as a school.

Mark said: "The conditions in the rest of the building are mixed. Some are all right but other bits are terrible. The children are well looked after but the clothes are obviously poor and they rely on donations."

But Mark stressed the overwhelming feeling he had was one of hope. "There are a lot of people who want to help and are sending things out there. Yes, the facilities are terrible but a lot can be achieved and a lot of people want to help."

Linda Walker, national co-ordinator for the Chernobyl Children's Project, said: "It is wonderful that these people are going out to help the youngsters at the orphanage.

"The facilities are really bad and staff and children have been struggling for a while, so the creation of a laundry and the improved shower facilities will be a boon."

If anyone wants to help, call Jonathon Pearson on (01423) 711300.