Daniel Kawczynski, the MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, has accepted an award in Poland on behalf of his members of his family who sacrificed their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

The second Zabinski awards – named after Jan and Antonina Zabinski, who rescued more than 300 Jews from the Warsaw ghetto – took place at Warsaw Zoo on Monday.

Jan Kawczynski, the great uncle of Daniel Kawczynski, was murdered after it was discovered that he helped to hide Jews in his home during the Second World War.

His wife and 10-year-old daughter were also killed.

The MP, who is the first Polish-born British MP, said: “I’m very proud of this. My family’s connection has definitely drawn me to work to commemorate the Holocaust, and the hardship Poland went through during the war.

“I am determined to make sure this story continues to be told. It will be a very poignant day.”

Also honoured for protecting Jews were the Franciscan Sisters of the Monastery of Mary and Polish citizen Natalia Jakobiuk.

The awards sponsored by the From the Depths organisation which works in Holocaust commemoration.