An artist has created a sculpture of a Holocaust survivor and resistance fighter to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Frances Segelman, also known as Lady Petchey, created the ‘bust’ of Freddie Knoller, who was forced to work in Auschwitz during the Second World War.

Mr Knoller, 98, from Barnet lived in Vienna throughout his younger years, but escaped to Belgium when the Nazi’s invaded.

There he was placed in a refugee camp until 1940 before fleeing to France to join his cousins in Galliac.

Under false papers, Mr Knoller made a living in Paris and joined the French Resistance in March 1943.

But his Jewish identity was found out after a broken love affair led to his betrayal and arrest by the Vichy Police.

He was deported to Auschwitz in October 1943 where he was forced to work for the remainder of the war.

In January 1945 he was taken on a death march from the concentration camp to Mittelbau-Dora, where the V2 rockets were made.

But as the Americans got closer, he was evacuated to Bergen-Belsen, where he was liberated by the British Army on April 15, 1945.

He joined his two brothers in the USA in 1947, working in Baltimore where he met and married his wife Freda, who was born in England.

They returned to England two years later where they had their two daughters, Marcia and Susie.

The live sculpting of Mr Knoller by Mrs Segelman took place at Jewish Care’s Selig Court independent living apartments on Sunday, January 19.

It was attended by an audience of Freddie’s family and friends, tenants of Selig Court, members of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre and young volunteers from the Sunday Social.

Following the creation of his ‘bust’ Mr Knoller, a member of the Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, said: ““Although I have had many photos taken of me I have never been sculpted before.

“It was very exciting to be sculpted by Frances, she is a fantastic artist and has created an amazing sculpture of me. Thank you, Frances.”

Mrs Segelman added: “It has been a great privilege to sculpt Freddie Knoller.

These important art events help future generations learn from the Holocaust so that it never happens again".