Pupils at schools across Blackpool are enjoying a colourful few days to mark National Anti-Bullying Week.

Bispham High Arts College and Highfield Humanities College welcomed pupils from local primary schools to drama and dance productions on the theme of bullying while Palatine Community Sport College began this week with 'White Monday', and will end it with 'Blue Friday', as part of its commitment to tackle bullying.

On Monday, Palatine staff wore white ribbons and white items of clothing to highlight white as a universal sign of peace.

Lessons also included activities on the anti-bullying theme 'it's good to be kind'.

The school launched a new Palatine Anti-bullying Charter on Tuesday, drawn up by staff and students.

The document gives definitions of bullying, together with strategies to be used to confront bullies in those situations.

The rest of the week is being spent on anti-bullying themed activities including selling Kidscape Wristbands, devising jingles for Palatine Radio, emotive writing, making badges and composing music for the school band.

A display has also been mounted in the new Palatine Library and Learning Centre on the school site.

Tomorrow's Blue Friday will be a non-uniform day, though students will all wear something blue. A cash collection for Children In Need is also planned.

Frank Shipway, assistant head teacher, said: "Along with all schools, we at Palatine take bullying very seriously.

"The introduction of a bully box has hopefully led to a decline in bullying around the school and provided avenues for children to bring bullying out into the open.

"Our Student Mentor scheme has been a great success and we are looking to build on that through this week.

"Bullying survives primarily because of secrecy.

If this week does little else than to bring the issues, and more importantly the routes for children, out into the open, then it will have gone a long way to improving the lives of that small minority whose existence is being made a misery due to bullying."

He added: "I cannot recall in all my time teaching that such a worthy national initiative has attracted so much attention within school."

John Topping, deputy head teacher at Bispham High, accompanied two pupils to a national conference on bullying in London on Monday.

Cllr Ivan Taylor, Blackpool's children's services portfolio holder, said: "Bullying is obviously always a very important issue in Blackpool schools but this week gives everybody involved a chance to really think about what can and should be done to address the problem."