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Sunderland will remember the victims of genocides worldwide on Holocaust Memorial Day, which is today.

The international theme for 2021 commemorations is 'Light the Darkness' – with a number of commemorative online activities organised by Sunderland City Council.

A memorial flame artwork made by Sunderland schoolchildren was chosen from more than 300 entries to be part of a national art exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Made by children from Bexhill Academy, Lambton Primary School, Grangetown Primary and St Leonard's Primary Schools, the project was commissioned and developed by Sunderland Libraries Services working with MBC Arts

Wellbeing and local blacksmith Darren Witty, from Norfolk Street Forge.

It takes the form of 75 coal-forged steel candle holders housed in a hollow steel frame spelling out the word 'FREI', one of the words above the main gate at Auschwitz.

The exhibition, due to be hosted in Sunderland in January, has been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions, but is available to view online at www.hmd.org.uk/ resource/75-memorialflames-digital-exhibition

Iconic landmarks in the area will be lit up in the colour purple to mark the day and go to the Sunderland Inter Faith Forum Facebook page for details of its online Holocaust Memorial event. This year’s speakers will include Cllr David Snowdon, pictured, Mayor of Sunderland.