Guests gathered in Stevenage yesterday to mark Holocaust Memorial Day – exactly 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.

The Comet: Rabbi Emily Juram led the way in lighting the memorial candle at Stevenage Borough Council's Holocause Memorial Day event. Picture: Sharon TaylorRabbi Emily Juram led the way in lighting the memorial candle at Stevenage Borough Council's Holocause Memorial Day event. Picture: Sharon Taylor (Image: Archant)

More than 120 people went along to the event at Stevenage Borough Council which was supported by the Stevenage Liberal Synagogue.

Among those marking the anniversary was Lesley Urbach, who spoke of her mother and aunt coming to the UK on Kindertransport, and her grandparents journey to Auschwitz.

The Comet: Rabbi Emily Juram led the way in lighting the memorial candle at Stevenage Borough Council's Holocause Memorial Day event. Picture: Sharon TaylorRabbi Emily Juram led the way in lighting the memorial candle at Stevenage Borough Council's Holocause Memorial Day event. Picture: Sharon Taylor (Image: Archant)

This was followed by the showing of films from Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and a poem read by Stevenage's youth mayor, William Sarenden.

Visitors took part in a prayer and a memorial candle was lit by Rabbi Emily Juram and other dignitaries before Stevenage Liberal Synagogue joint chair Terry Wolfe made his closing remarks.

Council leader Sharon Taylor took to Twitter to thank guests for coming along to the event, and said the event was "incredibly moving".