A JEWISH man whose relatives were murdered in Nazi concentration camps shared his horrific memories of the Holocaust with school children this week.

Retired engineer Mr George Lobel, aged 75, talked to pupils at West Redcar school who are studying the Holocaust, in which millions of Jews and other civilians were systematically killed.

The event was one of many taking place this week to remember the Holocaust.

Mr Lobel, of Newcastle, regularly speaks about the Holocaust to clubs, synagogues and schools. He spoke at Yarm school last year.

On Monday, he recalled how Nazi laws were introduced to persecute Jews in pre-war Germany - and how persecution led to mass murder in the terrible network of concentration camps.

Mr Lobel recalled: "I got out of Germany by the skin of my teeth in 1939, when I was aged 12. I grew up in the town of Bemberg, north of Nuremburg which was a hot bed of Nazism and the location for mass rallies.

"My grandfather and parents ran an electric light manufacturing business. After Kristall Nacht, when Jewish shop windows were smashed across Germany, my parents knew it was time we left.

"My eldest brother, Bill, went to the USA and Ronny went to England. I came to England, too, and thankfully my parents got out. We all made the journey alone and eventually met up in England in late 1939.

"I initially lived in London until my parents arrived. We were interned, evacuated and then moved to Newcastle. I went to school then worked as farm boy in Keswick before becoming an apprentice.

"But two of my grandparents, my uncles and aunts were all killed in camps. My grandparents were both gassed and we don't know what happened to the others."

He thought the school talk went well, saying: "The children seemed very interested and had some knowledge of the Nazis. They asked a lot of questions and made a tremendous effort to produce some excellent sketches about the Holocaust, the public humiliation of Jews, the closure of their businesses and theft of their property

"Six million Jews died but another 6m gypsies, communists, Catholics, political opponents and others were also murdered. When I speak at schools, synagogues or Rotary clubs, I always point this out. "Remembering the Holocaust is a good idea. Discrimination and racism must be fought. Tolerance is a very important principle and it is important to discuss this with youngsters. We all know that bullying is often based on differences, whether its the way a child looks, talks, speaks or whatever".

The pupils will investigate the effects of malnutrition in science, cook Jewish food, learn about Judaism in religious education and look at the controversial history of Israel.

History teacher Mrs Carole Brown said: "We want to show how a subject like the Holocaust can have relevance right across the curriculum.

"Every subject is contributing in some way. We want to remember the Holocaust particularly, to ensure the horror is not forgotten and hopefully, never repeated."