A MAJOR crackdown was launched today to stamp out bullying in all schools in Blackburn and Darwen.

Education bosses have spent two years drawing up a new anti-bullying strategy to tackle the problem.

They aim to end the misery of victims quicker and stop bullying before it starts through a host of initiatives including:

* Pupil-to-pupil massages where students will give hand massages in a bid to break down social and cultural barriers and aggression.

* Visits by anti-bullying magician Sarah Lewis to all primary schools to show children how to identify bullying behaviour and deal with it.

* Access to counselling website www.kooth.com for all secondary school pupils so they can get help and advice.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Mike Lee said the authority had been prompted to act because young people themselves regularly raised concerns over the issue.

He said: “Anything that addresses bullying is a good idea. Pupils lives can be a nightmare as a result of bullying.

“Anything that will help is worth doing to reduce cases of bullying.”

The 12 page document, endorsed by Blackburn with Darwen Children and Young People’s Trust, coincides with national anti-bullying week which also starts today.

The strategy will use partnerships with organisations such as the police to protect children from bullying as well as providing support and training for schools.

It includes information about the warning signs of bullying for parents, which will be published in the form of leaflets, and the development of ‘bully free’ neighbourhoods through pilot projects.

Every school in the borough has received a copy of the strategy and anti-bullying posters will be displayed in schools and around both towns.

Robin Campbell, headteacher of Pleckgate High School Maths and Computing College, Blackburn, said: "Bullying is a major issue in schools but it also occurs away from schools and on the school bus or using the internet for example.

“I know schools have really put in comprehensive strategies in place to deal with bullying and we have our own strategies too.

“We have a range of strategies. One is empathy where senior pupils go out into the school yard and they are there to approach if a child needs help as a first step.

"We welcome a comprehensive strategy which can offer help and information about bullying during and after school."

This year’s national anti-bullying week, which is being supported by the council, has the theme "Stay Safe in Cyberspace".

Schools are being provided with information about safer ways of working on the internet and how to counter cyber bullying.

Councillor Chris Thayne, executive member for children's services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "All children have the right to feel safe. Bullying, which undermines a young person's feeling of security is one of their top concerns.

"The strategy will help schools, parents and young people in tackling bullying together.

"By discussing with them how best we can deal with bullying there is a much better chance of ridding our schools of this barrier to the best educational experience.”