THIS year s Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked with events across Comet country. The day is held annually on January 27, to mark the date in 1945 when Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the full scale of the ho

THIS year's Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked with events across Comet country.

The day is held annually on January 27, to mark the date in 1945 when Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the full scale of the horrors became apparent.

In Stevenage on Saturday, there will be a stand in the Westgate Centre between 10am and 2pm, where representatives from different communities in the town will be on hand to talk about what can be learnt from the Holocaust and the consequences of exclusion.

Elsewhere, Year 9 pupils from The Highfield School in Letch-worth GC are due to pay a visit to the Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum and also the Jewish Museum where they will listen to a talk from a Holocaust survivor.

Two students from Fearnhill School, also in Letchworth GC, who visited Auschwitz concentration camp last year, have taken the initiative and organised a week of events.

The students will give assemblies about the thought-provoking visit, put up an informative display and sell black ribbons tomorrow (Friday) to raise money for the Holocaust Educational Trust.

David Lloyd, executive member for education at Hertford-shire County Council said: "Events that support Holocaust Memorial Day are very valuable.

"The lessons of the Holocaust are of universal relevance and have implications for us all. They give us a greater awareness of worldwide issues and teach us important lessons for the future as we reflect upon their consequences.