TWO North-East sixth-formers are to give a first-hand account of their visit to Auschwitz to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp.

Katie Yeats and Mark Roberts, both 17, attend Durham Johnston School and were both chosen to visit the concentration camp in Poland where more than a million Jews perished during the Holocaust.

The students, both in the upper sixth form of the school, travelled to London after being selected to take part in the project, organised annually by the Holocaust Education Trust.

They met a Holocaust survivor before flying off for the one-day visit to Poland, accompanied by teacher Elizabeth Johnson.

After returning from Auschwitz, they attended a ten-day debriefing at London's Imperial War Museum.

Now the students are preparing to give a moving account of their visit to their fellow pupils at a school assembly a week today, marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Before delivering their account of the memorable visit, Mark and Katie will be featured on this Sunday's Songs of Praise, which is marking the anniversary.

Summing up their feelings after the visit, Mark said it had been a "life-changing experience".

Katie said "It is something I think everyone should do in their lifetime."

Teacher Ms Johnson said: "It was unforgettable."