PEOPLE throughout Darlington will come together next month to remember the millions who lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Darlington Borough Council has organised a series of events to mark the first-ever national Holocaust Memorial Day, on January 27.

The day, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, will become an annual commemoration to ensure that the crimes against humanity committed during the Second World War are never forgotten.

The objectives are to provide a national mark of respect for all victims of Nazi persecution, to raise awareness and understanding of the Holocaust, and to reflect on recent atrocities which raise similar issues.

To put the event together, Darlington council consulted with and involved representatives from a number of groups in the town, including the Jewish community, gay community, disability groups and asylum seekers.

A ceremonial service will be held at 3pm, on January 27, in Darlington Town Hall.

There will be guest readers and speakers, prayers, remembrances and input from non-ecumenical communities to ensure that all victim of the Holocaust are represented.

From January 8 until January 27 there will also be a display of information in the Town Hall.

This will consider genocide across the decades and will focus on educating children so that past atrocities are not repeated by future generations.

Peter Freitag, spokesman for the Darlington Hebrew Congregation, said he hoped the event would be well supported.

"We think it's very important that the Jewish community don't own the Holocaust," said Mr Freitag, whose uncle was killed in Auschwitz.

"Anyone who wasn't blonde, blue-eyed and an Aryan was at risk, including people who were gay and mentally ill, and they were just as likely to be exterminated as the Jews.

"January 27 should be a learning day and we hope as many people as possible will support the event."

If there are members of the public in Darlington who have direct experience of Holocaust atrocities and would like to be involved in the event, they can contact Amanda Hugill or Nicola Hartshorne on (01325) 388263 or Lynne Wood on (01325) 388287