BULLYING came under the spotlight yesterday.

Durham County Council's Anti-Bullying Service, regarded as one of the best in the country, held a "peer supporters day'' at Trevelyan College, Durham City.

Peer supporters are pupils who act as listeners to schoolmates who have problems.

The service recently won £500,000 from the European Social Fund to pay for project workers and extend peer supporters projects to every secondary school.

The day gave pupils involved in the projects the chance to meet and have fun while learning team-building skills and good practice.

More than 150 pupils and staff were joined by two cast members from Byker Grove - Chris Beatty, who plays Joe, and Emma Littlewood, who plays Stella.

Bullying features in a current storyline and the show was keen to offer support.

Project coordinator Val McFarlane said: "The support we are getting is just overwhelming and shows the depth of feeling towards the bullying issue.

"The recent cash injection means there are now project workers in every secondary school throughout the county, alongside the existing primary school workers.

"This has enabled every secondary school to have its own peer support project.

"Thousands of pupils have been trained by the project workers in active listening skills and have set up listening posts in school for worried children to come along to - and so receive support from pupils in their own age group.

"Each scheme has its own name and is largely run by the pupils with guidance and support from school staff and the project workers."