SCORES of people gathered to remember victims of the Holocaust at a Memorial Day service in Weymouth.

The service in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day was conducted at the Princess Diana Gardens on Radipole Park Drive.

The service this year, with a focus on ‘journeys’, began at 10.30am at the Holocaust memorial tree, planted near to Alexandra Bridge, donated by resident Tony Hamm.

It was hosted by the mayor of Weymouth and Portland Coun Ray Banham, with prayers and readings being led by the mayor’s chaplin the Rev Pip Salmon joined by religious faith representatives.

Rabbi Pete Tobias, who regularly appears in Pause for Thought on Chris Evans’s BBC Radio Two show, joined a congregation of more than 40 people.

Coun Banham said: “For that one day, and that one unique moment, it was brilliant to see everyone give their time and respect to attend Holocaust Memorial Day.

“Services like this raise awareness of the Holocaust itself and the genocides afterwards. It makes people more aware of what happened.”

The annual event is an international day of remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and Tibet.

It was also last chance to see a Holocaust display on show at Weymouth Library.

The leader of the Jewish community in Weymouth, Lord Morris Mendoza, regularly attends Memorial Day services in Dorset because he says they help paint a clearer picture of events.

He added: “Unfortunately I was unable to attend the service in Weymouth this year,.

“Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand the background and history behind the Holocaust and genocides, so services like this really do help that.

“Having spoken to Rabbi Pete Tobias recently, we are aiming to get a school to attend the Holocaust Memorial Service next year in the hope that it raises even more awareness.”