THE victims of 20th century genocides were remembered at a service marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

Hundreds of residents and school children from across Redbridge gathered at the Holocaust Memorial Garden in Valentines Park in Ilford this morning (January 27).

Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, of Chabad Lubavitch in Ilford, urged residents to remember the lessons of the Holocaust to challenge prejudice, while Cllr Alan Weinberg said the government should make Holocaust denial a crime.

As well as those murdered by the Nazis, the day also honours victims of genocides in countries like Cambodia and Rwanda.

The Guardian asked some of the pupils at the service why they thought the day is so important.

Cian Lennon, 8, from Wanstead
It's important because we can remember what happened even though most of the people from that time aren't around any more.

Ioanna O'Sullivan, 8, from Chigwell
Everyone should learn that because we are all different it doesn't meant that we should be treated differently.

Sacha Johnstone, 16, from Clayhall
I think it's important that the community comes together, both of Jewish and other faiths, to remember the Holocaust and to learn from its lessons.

Aaron O'Caille, 8, from Woodford Green
It's important to learn about the Jewish people who were killed, and how the Nazis should have never done what they did to them.

Valentina Vittore, 10, from Leytonstone
We have to remember what happened in the past to stop it from happening again.

Natalie Cirsch, 16, from Ilford
It's important that the stories are not lost. In future years the survivors will be gone and we don't want those stories to go with them.