CHILDLINE chairwoman Esther Rantzen yesterday made a heartfelt plea for an end to the schooldays scourge of bullying.

She likened the problem to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, saying the horrifying images in the media showed just how easily the vulnerable could be taken advantage of.

Although the school her own children attended had claimed to be free of bullying, she later discovered her youngest son had actually been bullied there for three years.

She told a conference in York yesterday: "Bullying takes many forms. It can be mental cruelty and it can utterly destroy people's lives."

The conference, held at the Royal York Hotel, was attended by teachers, headteachers and governors from across the Yorkshire region, and was aimed at tackling bullying and intimidation in schools.

Education Minister Ivan Lewis urged delegates to support the Government's Make A Difference campaign to clamp down on bullying.

He called on them to adopt an anti-bullying Charter For Action, committing their school community to a culture where bullying is not tolerated and is actively tackled.

"Bullying is not a part of growing up. Bullying is not character- building," he said.

"Bullying is physical or emotional assault and can lead to the most tragic consequences."

He said: "No one can tackle bullying on their own and no one will stop bullying overnight.

"But together, in a true partnership of schools, professional associations, voluntary organisations, parents and young people, we can make a difference."

He said the Charter for Action was designed to make a powerful statement that bullying would never be tolerated.

"Every school has a responsibility to have an active anti-bullying policy; every adult in that school has a responsibility to tackle bullying; every parent has a responsibility to support their child and their school.

"Every child has the right to reach their full potential in a safe and positive environment."

Last year, 22,000 children rang Childline about bullying and this year the figure has risen to nearer 30,000. Efforts to get more schools to adopt an action charter will continue at a conference in Stockton later this month.