THE moving story of Anne Frank, the Jewish girl whose diaries tell the horrifying and heroic account of her attempt to hide from the Nazis during the Second World War, is to feature in a new exhibition.

The Anne Frank Educational Trust is bringing a display to Durham Cathedral, which tells the story of the persecution and massacre of millions of Jews.

The Frank family hid from the Nazis in a secret section of their Amsterdam home, before they were discovered and taken to concentration camps.

The exhibition will be held from November 4 to November 26 and is being backed by Durham County Council, churches and schools.

Patrick Conway, the council's Director of Arts, Libraries and Museums, said: "The exhibition provides an insight into the persecution of the Jews during the Second World War through the story of Anne Frank, of those who knew her, and the testimony of others who suffered.

"The experience of prejudice is not one unique to that period of history and the exhibition reflects this, containing issues of contemporary relevance, including a section on the life of Stephen Lawrence.

"The story of Anne Frank is a message of courage and hope."

The Arts, Libraries and Museums Department is contributing £1,000 towards the cost of the exhibition and providing support and promotion.

It also plans to hold a public workshop, with the North East of England History Service, on the history of tolerance in the region.

Schoolchildren will also be taught about tolerance and understanding, and Investing in Children will stage a youth exhibition to complement the main display.

The council's Environment Department is organising tree plant-ing to coincide with the exhibition