NORTH-EAST agony aunt Denise Robertson has helped launch a major anti-bullying campaign which aims to reach every pupil in County Durham.
The TV personality yesterday opened a week-long exhibition at County Hall, in Durham, to which every child in the county has been invited.
The week is part of Durham County Council's Anti-Bully Service, which works with schools to develop a number of initiatives, including "buddy" schemes where fellow pupils act as counsellors.
To launch the week's events, pupils from selected schools performed a number of scenes and songs for Denise Robertson about the issue.
Afterwards, Ms Robertson said: "I think the idea is absolutely marvellous and will help create a climate where people won't suffer. I deal with a number of people who never get over being bullied at school.
"They go into victim mode and never get over it. Schemes like these can stop the problem early."
A council spokesman said that the week-long event, called Happier in School, was designed to help teachers and parents deal with the problem, as well as children.
Marianne Taylor, from the council's educational psychology service, said: "We hope that the pooling of resources, ideas and information will breed confidence and that is a vital weapon in the fight against bullying."
Role-playing, traditional playground game displays and awareness-raising videos feature in the exhibition, which runs from 10am-3.30pm every day at County Hall, except Friday, when it closes at midday.
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