Members of David Cameron’s Holocaust Commission have travelled to the United States to investigate new techniques for educating people about the Shoah.

Actress Helena Bonham Carter, television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky and commission chair Mick Davis visited New York and Washington.

They saw the new 9/11 museum where interactive technology is being used by visitors and hosted a tea party for 50 Holocaust survivors at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel also discussed Shoah education with the commissioners.

Ms Bonham Carter said: "It has been an honour to meet so many Holocaust survivors today. Hearing their stories underlines the enormity of the task ahead of us as members of the Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission.

“We have a responsibility to keep these stories alive and a duty to ensure their memories will never be forgotten."

In the US capital the group held meetings at the White House and Congress and visited Washington’s Holocaust memorial museum.

Ms Kaplinsky said the trip had been informative and meeting American survivors had provided a different aspect to the commission’s work.

“These remarkable individuals work tirelessly to educate others by sharing their stories. We won't always have them with us. It is our duty to act now to keep their legacy alive and ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are not lost for future generations. "

Mr Cameron’s commission is looking into how Britain should remember the Holocaust. A series of consultation events took place in this country between January and last month, with around 2,500 responses received.

The cross-party group will make recommendations to the Prime Minister by the end of the year.