TRIBUTES have been paid to those who lost their lives in the holocaust 70 years ago.

Special events were held at Bolton Town Hall and Bolton School to mark Holocaust Memorial Day — an event to remember the six million people killed by the Nazis.

Mayor of Bolton, councillor Martin Donaghy, told gathered guests, civic dignitaries and schoolchildren it was important to "make time to remember and reflect about the consequences of such atrocities and the sufferings of innocent people" .

He said: "The theme chosen by the Holocaust Memorial Trust — "Keep the Memory Alive", for this year is very fitting. The pain of forced separation from the loved ones and in many cases never seen or to meet again is unimaginable.

"There are lessons to be learned from the atrocities such as the Holocaust and subsequent genocides which have tragically devastated many millions of innocent lives around the world and sadly continues to do so even today."

There were readings given by children from Bolton Parish CE, Brandwood Community and Gilnow Primary Schools and music from Bolton School Girls' Division and candle lighting from the various dignitaries, religious leaders and school children.

Chan Parmar, from Bolton Interfaith Council, said the event gave people the opportunity to reflect on the need to "put a greater emphasis on education and community engagement."

He said: "Bolton Interfaith Council is grateful for the support we have received from Bolton Council, the Holocaust Memorial Trust, Rabbi Lever, schools, partners and many individual colleagues for this excellent community event."

At Bolton School Girls' Division year 12 pupils Alexandra Hopkinson and Sarah Ibberson organised a special assembly to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. This followed their trip to the Auschwitz death camps.

The girls arranged for every pupil to be given an electric tea-light and the name of an individual Holocaust victim to remember during the assembly.

Students wrote the victim’s name on a sticker and attached it to their tea-light, which they then switched on before processing into Great Hall. Sixth Form volunteers collected the memorial lights and placed them on the stage, creating a temporary memorial of more than a thousand lights.