Gidea Park students heard the harrowing story of a Holocaust survivor last week.

Bob Obuchowski visited the Royal Liberty School, Upper Brentwood Road, to tell the story of life as a Jewish child in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Bob, who now lives in Redbridge, was transferred from the ghetto in Lodz, Poland to the Auschwitz death camp.

Teacher Cath Sullivan said: “He described his terrible journey on the cattle trucks and using the dead bodies as pillows.

“He said “we weren’t human anymore”. “Bob showed the students his tattoo on his left arm - B7650 - and explained how this robbed him of his identity.

“Finally, Bob’s ordeal was over in 1945, when after going on a death march to Czecholovakia, the Russians were waiting and saved his life. The Year 11 students gained so much from Bob’s testimony.”

Year 11 student Charlie Deadman-Bartle said: “It was a pleasure listening to him, he is a miracle, he is a gift from God.”

Lennie Tucker added: “I will never forget today because we will never have the opportunity to witness this again.”