HUNDREDS of children set off to school this morning with a feeling of dread.

Not because they were late with homework or facing gym class -- but because they face the wrath of the bully when they get there.

According to a recent report by school education watchdog Ofsted, bullies rule the roost in hundreds of classrooms.

The problem is the biggest cause of calls to children's charity Childline, which has taken 20,000 calls from anxious youngsters in the past six years.

Many schoolchildren are already too afraid to complain to staff, parents or siblings for fear of revenge attacks, but indicators reveal the problem is getting worse.

But officers at Lancashire County Council's local education authority (LEA) which covers schools in Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley are sending the clearest message yet that bullies have met their match.

They have created a pioneering new post for an anti-bullying teacher adviser in Christine Hulland.

The post lasts for two years and children across the area will benefit from Mrs Hulland's experience as a teacher as she aims to help schools develop anti-bullying policies.

She hopes to ensure that all schools in the area have quality documents, training and strategies in place.

Mrs Hulland said: "My job is to help schools develop anti-bullying policies and visit as many schools as possible to work with them."

Information packs from the Department of Education and Skills have already been delivered to schools across East Lancashire.

Mrs Hulland added: "I think bullying goes on in all aspects of society. It is important that if children have concerns they seek help and tell friends, teachers or parents.

"There is plenty of good practice already going on in schools with peer mentoring schemes, positive lunch time play and buddy schemes. We will be looking at developing these further."

The Ofsted report Bullying: Effective Action in Secondary Schools recommended that teacher training, peer counselling and mentoring schemes as positive steps to combating bullying.

David Bell, chief schools inspector described bullying as a "blight that picks off its victims at random, destroying their confidence and making their lives a misery."