A STUDENT-made documentary about a concentration camp survivor who kept the horrors of Auschwitz a secret for more than 60 years will be screened on television.

Student filmmakers Robin Pepper, from Northallerton, and Mark Oxley and Ian Orwin, both from Middlesbrough, made the film, which has been added to the archives at the Auschwitz Museum in Poland, earlier this year.

Mrs Knill, who lives in Leeds, kept her time at the notorious death camp a secret from friends and family for almost 60 years because she felt unable to talk about it.

But as she began writing her story down in a book she remembered a promise made to adolescent twins in Auschwitz who, knowing they were about to be sent to the gas chambers, begged her to tell the world what she had soon. The twins had undergone horrific experiments at the hands of Nazi scientists at the camp.

The documentary has helped fulfil her promise – and the screening of it on The Community Channel will spread her message even further, Mr Pepper said.

He was so moved by the account in Mrs Knill’s book, The Woman Without a Number, that he asked her if he could make the film for his final year project at the University of Teesside.

He said: “We submitted the film to the Community Channel and they said they wanted to show it.

“Iby is absolutely thrilled. She celebrated her 90th birthday this week so it is a great birthday present for her. She is delighted to get her story broadcast on a national level.

The documentary Iby Knill: An Auschwitz Promise will be screened at 8.30pm on Saturday, December 7 on the Community Channel, which is channel 539 on Sky; 233 on Virgin and 651 on Freesat. The programme will be available on demand.