THE step-sister of wartime diarist Anne Frank will plant a commemorative tree in her honour in a Bradford park.

Dr Eva Schloss, honorary life president of the Anne Frank Trust UK, will plant a chestnut tree in the grounds of Cartwright Hall, Lister Park later this month.

The chestnut tree sapling was given to Bradford by the Anne Frank House Amsterdam in 2010 and it has been carefully nurtured to grow large enough to be planted outdoors.

The chestnut tree behind the Secret Annexe in Amsterdam was one of Anne Frank's only links to the outside world during the years she spent in hiding.

She wrote about the tree in her famous diary on May 13, 1944: "Our chestnut tree is in full bloom. It's covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year.”

But the White Horse Chestnut tree, which was more than 170 years old, suffered from a serious disease and was felled on August 23, 2010.

Annelies Marie 'Anne' Frank was a diarist and writer. She was one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Her wartime diary, The Diary of a Young Girl, has been the basis for several plays and films.

She gained international fame after she died when her diary was published.

It follows her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War.

Jani Rashid, Bradford Council's head of diversity and cohesion, said: "We took a group of 20 students from secondary schools to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam in 2009 as they were being trained to be Anne Frank Ambassadors, and the museum staff were impressed at the knowledge of our students from the outset.

"There are only 150 descendants of the tree worldwide, so we were surprised and honoured to have a sapling from the actual tree presented to Bradford.”

The tree planting ceremony will be hosted by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Mike Gibbons, on February 25, followed by a civic reception at Cartwright Hall.

The Anne Frank +YOU exhibition will open the same night at Kala Sangam, St Peter's House, where Dr Schloss will give a speech about her experiences as a Holocaust survivor.

Students trained as Anne Frank Ambassadors will guide school parties and visitors around the exhibition between February 26 and March 26.

The exhibition is supported by an education pack from the Stand up, Speak out, Make a Difference programme.

Schools involved include Belle Vue Boys' School, Carlton Bolling College, Dixons City Academy and Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College.