A telephone helpline will be set up this summer for County Durham schoolchildren who are being bullied.

The line will be manned by older pupils, who have been given training to offer guidance, support and information to callers.

The line will be open during Happier in School week, which will run from July 11 to 18, and will be organised by the County Durham Anti-Bullying Service, based in the county council's education department.

The initiative follows last year's inaugural anti-bullying event, which was attended by thousands of youngsters from across the county and was hailed as highly successful.

Activities lined up for this year's event include video shoots, interactive CD-ROM sessions, poster making sessions and games.

Display boards will be on show throughout the week, highlighting the anti-bullying schemes operating in the county's schools.

Val McFarlane, a coordinator with the Anti-Bullying Service, said: "The event is designed to provide children, teachers and parents with information to help to tackle bullying and let them know the support services that are available.

"The excellent publicity we got last year meant that the County Hall switchboard was flooded with calls about the work we are doing.

"So this year we are setting up a telephone helpline throughout the week, manned by ourselves and older pupils who have basic training from our peer support service.

"They will be on hand to give support to other pupils who are experiencing problems at school."