THE step-sister of World War II diarist and concentration camp victim Anne Frank will speak at a history event in Bournemouth in September.

Eva Schloss will give an insight into her life at an event organised by Chabad of Bournemouth and Talbot Heath School.

Eva first became friends with Anne at the age of eight when they lived in the same apartment block in Amsterdam.

They were only a month apart in age and became friends before both girls and their families went into hiding to avoid Nazi attempts to capture all Jews in the city.

Eva's family was captured by the Nazis after being betrayed by a double agent in the Dutch underground and transported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camps.

Her father and brother died but she and her mother were freed, barely alive, in 1945 by Soviet troops.

They returned to Amsterdam where Eva's mother married Otto Frank following the deaths of his wife and children, including Anne, in concentration camps.

Eva has travelled widely throughout her life, determined to preserve the memory of all Holocaust victims, including Anne, whose Diary of a Young Girl is famous the world over.

She will speak at Talbot Heath in Rothesay Road on Sunday September 1 at 7.30pm.

Rabbi Bentzion Alperowitz of Chabad of Bournemouth said: "Eva Schloss will share her experiences as the childhood friend and step sister of Anne Frank, including accounts of the publishing of Anne's famed diary.

"Families of all faiths are invited to attend. This is a special opportunity to hear a first-hand account from someone whose life intersected with one of the most compelling figures in our history. Chabad of Bournemouth is honoured to sponsor the event, in partnership with Talbot Heath School."

Tickets must be bought in advance with talk tickets at £12 each and tickets with preferential seating at £40 each.

A VIP package, which includes a reception with Eva, a signed copy of her book and preferential seating costs £100 per person.

Tickets are now available at www.bournemouthchabad.org/schloss