You can beat a bit of bully! That was the message from TV personality Jim Bowen as the Lancashire Evening Telegraph launched an anti-bullying poster competition for primary schools in association with Trutex.

Comedian Jim, a former East Lancashire primary school teacher, said: "It is so important to get the message over to children that the bullies can be stopped.

"The poster competition is a great way to get young children involved.

"The thing they should remember is you really CAN beat a bit of bully, never mind what they might say."

And leading anti-bullying campaigners have also backed the poster competition which will see two pupils winning £1,000 cash prizes for their schools.

Mel Goddard, North West co-ordinator for the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: "The key to tackling the problem is to start with children at an early age and an initiative to get them thinking about others and to spread the anti-bullying message like this is excellent.

"We have to show that bullying is not acceptable but it is also important not to demonise children who are bullies and to work with them and to educate them.

"It is all too easy to underestimate the effect that bullying can have on a child."

She added that the psychological effects of bullying lasted long after the physical effects may have faded.

"Many adults who were bullied in school are still able to remember who their school bully was," she said.

The increase of new technology has added to the problems faced by youngsters with the arrival of cyber-bullying' via the internet and through mobile phones.

She added: "Everyone has a role to play in combating bullying including those who see it happening and don't do anything about it."

Clitheroe-based Trutex, one of Britain's leading schoolwear brands, is working closely with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to raise awareness and reduce bullying in schools.

In backing the competition, Trutex is demonstrating its commitment to the next generation The competition is open to two age groups four to seven-year olds and eight to 11-year-olds. Entries must be on a sheet of A4 (portrait style) using crayons or felt pens.

The four best entries in each category will be published in the Evening Telegraph for readers to vote on.

The poster getting the most votes overall will be printed and sent to every school in East Lancashire.

To enter the competition, you must collect one coupon from any copy of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph this week.

Competition rules: Competition open to children between and including the ages of 4 and 11 years at the time of entering. Employees of Newsquest (Blackburn) Ltd, and Trutex are not eligible to enter. Entries will be judged by a panel that include the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Trutex and an independent judge. One entry form can be used per class regardless of the number of posters being submitted. Four of each age category will then be short listed to appear in paper for the winner to be voted on by our readers. The winning design will be printed as a colour poster to be distributed to primary schools in the East Lancashire area, Entry into the competition gives permission for design to be used. Publicity pictures will be required of presentation to winner. The editor's decision is final. A £1,000 prize money will be presented to the school of the winning design. A follow up story will be required to show how the prize money has been used.