A Jewish refugee who escaped the Nazis and built a successful business in Whitehaven has been honoured with a plaque at his former home.

Lord Frank Schon, who was born in Vienna, fled to the UK in March 1939 following the Nazi occupation of Prague, where he was working for a chemical company.

He moved to Whitehaven and – in partnership with Fred Marzillier – founded Marchon Products Ltd, which employed more than 2,000 people.

Now the Association of Jewish Refugees has unveiled a commemorative plaque at Lord Schon's former Corkickle home.

Lord Schon's daughters Yvonne and Susie attended a ceremony at their childhood house, now owned by Lyndon and Teresa Coats.

Susie said: "It is with happiness that we are here to unveil the plaque to our much loved father," said Susie.

"We lived here for over 10 years and we would like to thank Lyndon and Teresa for letting us do this."

The association represents and supports Jewish victims of Nazi oppression who rebuilt their lives in Britain.

Its plaque scheme is honouring prominent Jewish people who made a significant contribution to their adopted homeland.

Frank Harding, association trustee, said: "It is with great pride and pleasure that we commemorate the life of Frank Schon, whose pioneering and visionary work not only greatly advanced the development of industrial chemicals but created significant employment in Cumberland."

Marchon made synthetic detergent raw materials and Schon also set up Solway Chemicals Ltd.

In 1967 he was appointed chairman of the National Research Development Corporation. He became a life peer in 1976 after being knighted in 1966.

Mr Harding said: "We believe that these commemorative plaques will help form a tangible link between the illustrious earlier residents and the local community as well as fascinating residents and visitors."

Other people to be acknowledged by these plaques include the biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Sir Hans Krebs, Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who founded the Paralympics, and theologian, teacher and rabbi Dr Leo Baeck.