THE council is flying the Roma Flag this year in honour of Roma Gypsies who lost their lives in Auschwitz during World War II.

Dorset Council is flying the flag at County Hall from June 23 to 30 in commemoration of the deaths of all the Roma and Sinti murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz.

More than 200,00 Roma and Sinti were murdered or died as a result of starvation or disease. Many more were imprisoned, used as forced labour or subject to forced sterilisation and medical experimentation.

Cllr Val Pothecary, Leader of Dorset Council, said: “The Gypsy and Traveller community are our largest ethnic minority in rural Dorset, so I’m delighted to see the Roma flag raised at County Hall in Dorchester this week.

"They are part of the rich, diverse community we have here in Dorset, and we are proud to fly their flag.

"As a council we strive to address inequalities for people who are disadvantaged or treated less favourably based on their race, sex, disability, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation or religion/belief. We are committed to supporting all of our communities.”