Primary school pupils are used to fantastic tales. However, youngsters at Holybrook Primary in Greengates were left awe-struck by Hanneke Dye's all-too-real story.

Mrs Dye visited the school to tell them about how, as a toddler, she escaped death by a whisker, thanks to the bravery of a band of true heroes.

Born in Nazi-occupied Holland in February, 1943, to Jewish parents, the young Anneke was kept safe, thanks to an ingenious disguise and the bravery of her fellow countrymen and women.

Some 64 years on, and now a grandmother-of-four, she is determined to tell her story to ensure the horrors of the Holocaust are never, ever forgotten'.

In a speech which captured the Holybrook pupils' imagination, Mrs Dye, who now lives in Hebden, near Skipton, spoke of her early years and the common ground she shares with another Dutch Jewish girl, Anne Frank.

She said: "I have just a little in common with Anne - my name is Hanneke, which is derived from Anne and I am also Dutch and I was also hidden."

Mrs Dye was born in secret in a small village near Breda with help from a sympathetic midwife and doctor.

At just ten days old, she was transported in a vacuum cleaner box on the back of a bicycle to her Uncle Jaap's home. "My uncle was married to a lady who was not Jewish, and even she was in danger," added Mrs Dye.

"My aunt, Nel was her name, and uncle were hiding Jewish family and friends upstairs for a while until it became too dangerous and other hiding places had to be found."

Uncle Jaap eventually found places for her parents - but they would have to leave their newborn daughter behind.

On they day they left, Uncle Jaap's home was raided by the Germans. Asleep in her vacuum cleaner box in the attic, Hanneke was not found.

In a bid to save her life, faithful Uncle Jaap returned for his niece and took her to a woman named Nurse Pop, who ran a nearby children's home.

Despite several raids, she was again kept safe, thanks to the ingenuity of her carer. Mrs Dye's dark locks were quickly dyed blonde and she survived safe from harm until Holland was liberated in 1945.

Sadly, her paternal grandparents and aunt Bartje died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz.

In 1992 she went to a conference in Amsterdam for hidden children and by chance met two people who had also been at Nurse Pop's at the same time.

"One now lives in America, one in Holland and here I am in the UK," added Mrs Dye.

"I will never forget that it was the Americans and British that freed my country from oppression and gave us peace.

"Let us hope that one day there will be peace in all the countries of the world."

Holybrook head teacher Dave Jones said: "If we do not learn from history we will make the same mistakes.

"As educators it is important we put that vital message across."