An annual service to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day will take place in Lancaster next week.
The service will be held in the Garden of Remembrance at Lancaster Town Hall on Thursday January 30 at 6pm.
The ceremony will include multi-faith prayers and readings, the lighting of memorial candles, and a minute’s silence.
The theme of this year's Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘For a Better Future’ and communities around the UK will come together to pledge not to take freedom for granted and consider what they can do to strengthen freedoms around the world.
Holocaust Memorial Day is held to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. It also commemorates the millions more people murdered through the Nazi persecution of other groups and in the more recent genocides recognised by the UK government, and the genocide in Darfur.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Councillor Abi Mills, mayor of Lancaster, said: “I would encourage people to join us for this service of remembrance to honour the memory of those murdered during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides.
“Holocaust Memorial Day serves as a reminder that the horrors of the past must never be forgotten and that we each have a responsibility to stand up in opposition against hate in all its forms.
“This year the service will be especially poignant as it is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as well as the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
“Let us and come together as a community and renew our commitment to building a world where such atrocities are never repeated."
Everyone is invited to attend and bring a lantern as part of a collective remembrance pledge to light the darkness and share the lessons of the past to create a safer, better future.
A nationwide online ceremony called Curated Moments will take place on Monday January 27 which will be televised on BBC at 7pm, and will end with the call to join the Light the Darkness campaign at 8pm.
Lines reopen after train derailment on Scotland-London line
Police arrest two and seize illegal bike in Morecambe
ITV commissions sixth series of Morecambe crime drama The Bay
E-bike shop moves from Lancaster to new Carnforth showroom
Lancaster workshop to tackle the issue of drink and needle spiking
Morecambe raw feeds shop up for three 'Animal Star' awards
Two new festivals proposed for Morecambe entertainment venue the Platform
Second day of disruption as work continues after train derails in Cumbria
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
Mayor of Lancaster launches children's Christmas card competition
Councillor loses her seat for not attending meetings for six months
