THOUSANDS of pupils are to be protected by a new anti-bullying strategy.

A series of booklets for parents, carers and young people as well as new guidelines for recording incidents and supporting victims have been created in a bid to tackle the problem.

The launch, by Blackburn with Darwen Council, coincides with national anti-bullying week and follows two years of work with young people to help develop the initiative.

The strategy will use partnerships with organisation such as the police to promote the anti-bullying message as well as providing support and training for schools and support the development of bully-free zones.

Every school in the borough will receive a copy of the council's plans after an anti-bullying conference at the King George's Hall, Blackburn, today.

Alison O'Brien from the Anti Bullying Alliance, which is running anti-bullying week and was founded in 2002 to reduce bullying and create safer environments for children and young people, will be speaking about cyber bullying.

And copies of two leaflets - Bullying - A guide for parents and carers' and R U Bullied' - will be given out.

Schools under Lancashire County Council are also carrying marking anti-bullying week with assemblies and lessons on the Anti-Bullying Alliance's theme for this year - Safer Together, Safer Wherever.

Pupils will wear blue, the colour used to support anti-bullying, for Blue Friday'.

There will also be three conferences across the county - including one at Burnley Football Club on Thursday, where high school pupils will get together to have a look at how they can make a real difference to bullying.

Coun Chris Thayne, executive member for children's services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "All children have the right to feel safe in their learning environment.

"The council strategy will help schools, parents and young people to tackle bullying together. Bullying is one of the top concerns of children and parents."

County Coun Vali Patel, cabinet member for schools at Lancashire County Council, said: "These conferences cleverly tap into the insight of pupils themselves.

"By asking them how best we can deal with bullying we stand a much better chance of ridding our schools of it and giving everyone a better educational experience."