A MEMORIAL event attended by a senior rabbi was held to commemorate the Holocaust last night in Ebbw Vale.

It was organised by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Ebbw Fawr Learning Community and was attended by Rabbi Barry Marcus.

He has worked with the Holocaust Educational Trust and works at the Central Synagogue in London.

He spoke about his role in the trust and his Lessons from Auschwitz visits.

As part of the trips, sixth form students and their teachers take part in two afternoon seminars and a one-day visit to the Auschwitz extermination camp. More than 100 of the visits have been held.

The event at the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community School was also attended by Blaenau Gwent Council leader, Cllr Hedley McCarthy.

Cllr McCarthy said: “It is important to remember and to learn from the past to ensure that previous mistakes aren’t repeated.”

It is the second year the council has organised such an event.

Last year’s event was held at Abertillery Comprehensive School and attended by Eva Clark, who was born in Auschwitz.