HUNDREDS of visitors including nine schools visited East Lancashire's Anne Frank Exhibition, local MP Peter Pike has revealed - and he now hopes to bring it back to the area.

The Labour backbencher is delighted by the positive feedback he has had on the travelling display which recently came to Burnley Mechanics Theatre.

In addition to individual positive comments and feedback, the Burnley MP today learned from the Anne Frank Trust that nine schools attended the exhibition and more than 1,200 visitors flocked to see the exhibition.

Mr Pike said: "I had been trying to get the exhibition to Burnley for some time and we had planned that it would visit later in the year.

"More than 1,200 people did manage to visit it, and I have been contacted by a number of people who have made positive comments about the exhibition. I was also contacted by a number of people who regretted being unable to get along in the short time it was in Burnley.

"I went to see the exhibition for myself. We all found it a deeply moving and remarkable exhibition. The story is as relevant today as it was in the Second World War and the narrative highlighted some of the relevance in modern day society.

"I encouraged local schools to visit the exhibition and am delighted that - despite the short notice and the Easter break - several schools were able to visit. The story conveyed in one young girl's experience is relevant and instructive to our children today and highlights what can happen if we fail to embrace community and social cohesion."