The MP for Finchley and Golders Green is to stage a crocus bulb planting ceremony in his constituency on Sunday in memory of the 1.5 million children who lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Mike Freer, the Conservative MP for the constituency, said the event - which will take place on the green by the La Délivrance statue at Henley’s Corner, Finchley - was his own initiative which he is funding and which he has planned for some time.

He revealed he had sought advice on the ceremony from Rabbi Lawrence of Kinloss Synagogue, which is based just a few hundred metres from the site, in August.

As well as the planting of 1500 bulbs, a commemorative plaque bearing the MP's name will also be unveiled on the green during the event, which runs from 11 am to 4pm.

Local communal groups have supplied volunteers to plant the croci throughout the day.

Mr Freer said he wished to "do something locally" following visits to the children's memorial at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

The MP said the date of the event was influenced by negotiations with the council over use of the land, the length of time needed for the order of bulbs to arrive and the best time for planting.

Community leaders from several shuls have been invited to attend the event - which takes place just over one week after the MP Luciana Berger was announced as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the seat.

Mr Freer has been MP for Finchley and Golders Green for a decade, but his majority was reduced to just 1600 votes at the 2017 election.

He has retained close links with many senior local communal figures.

But former Labour MP Ms Berger, who joined the Lib Dems last month, is seeking to build on her reputation for standing up to antisemitism and her opposition to Brexit at the next election.

One local synagogue executive said they felt Sunday's event was being held by Mr Freer with "all the right intentions."

However, another communal figure expressed concern that by attending they might be "dragged into a political campaign."

But they added: "When you are asked to attend a commemoration for the children who died in the Holocaust - you don't refuse."