RUINS of gas chambers, deprived living facilities and a Jewish cemetery - Birchwood Community and Penketh High School pupils will never forget their visit to Auschwitz.

Just four students were selected for the trip to the former German Nazi  concentration camps in Poland, in a day where they were given a gripping insight into what took place during the Second World War during the German occupation of Poland.

A visit to a pre-war Jewish site began the day, before the gripping tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum, concentration camps and memorial site took place.

"It was hard-hitting being here, you can read about what happened but being here gives you a different perspective," said Birchwood sixth form student Macauley Davis, aged 16.

"The two things that struck me most were the size of the camps and walking through the gas chambers that had been here.

"The experience has been phenomenal, I will never forget it as it is now imprinted in me."

Penketh sixth form student Ashlea Buckley was also quick to point out the impact the day had on her but insisted it is a location she is glad to have visited.

"It has been eye-opening hearing and seeing where everything happened all them years ago," she said.

"I'm not sure if I will go home and do things differently after being here but I think that I will take a bit of a different look at things."

Fellow Penketh student Daniel Blackie, aged 17, added: "It wasn't what I expected from hearing and reading about it as being here and seeing it first hand is so different from anything else."

During the day, pupils were allocated into groups and given a thorough step-by-step guide of the sites.

Birchwood teacher Ian Moore took his place on the trip and believes the importance of school educational trips is clear to see.

"Actually being here gives the students a deeper insight into what happened and helps them learn," he said.

"It has been a lot to take in for everyone but it has been a memorable experience."

As the night sky quickly approached, the students sat through a fitting memorial service before lighting candles on the train track at Birkenau, in remembrance to those who were killed.