A NORTH-EAST schoolgirl hailed as a heroine for saving her sister four years ago died in hospital last night - a victim of school bullies.

Fifteen-year-old Elaine Swift is believed to have swallowed more than 100 paracetamol tablets after years of cruel taunts.

Her tragic death prompted renewed calls on the Government last night to appoint a school bully "tsar" to stamp out the menace of the playground thugs who drive their victims to despair.

In 1997, Elaine donated bone marrow to save her sister, Christine, from leu-kaemia. But her family claimed that, in a terrible irony, the self-less gesture made her a target for jealous bullies.

The problem became so bad that Elaine, of Lancaster Road, Hartlepool, moved schools a year ago after becoming a target at Brierton Comprehensive.

But the bullying continued at Dyke House, where she was due to take her GCSEs next year. Two weeks ago, she was taken to hospital when she told a teacher she felt unwell after taking painkillers.

It is understood that tests showed she had taken more than 100 tablets over a two-week period.

Her parents, Ben, 45, who is disabled, and Fiona, 38, had been keeping a vigil by her hospital bed for the past two weeks.

The last words Elaine uttered before slipping into unconsciousness were: "Daddy, I love you, I love you. I'm sorry."

And, despite undergoing a liver transplant at Newcastle's Freeman hospital, she passed away yesterday afternoon.

Elaine's family were too upset to speak last night.

But just before she died, Mr Swift said: "People must open their eyes and do something about this. We have to protect our children.

"She's a beautiful girl and doesn't deserve this."

Mr Swift, a primary school governor, said his daughter had written about committing suicide in a notebook he found next to his computer.

He said: "She wasn't getting listened to at school, so I think this was a cry for help. The education system has failed my daughter."

Bill Jordon, head of Dyke House School, said last night: "Our sympathies go out to Elaine's family at this sad time.

"The school takes the subject of bullying very seriously and we have stringent policies in place to deal with all bullying claims. We have been liaising with Elaine's parents over the alleged bullying incidents. I am confident that the school has acted properly and taken all the appropriate steps."

It is believed Elaine's tormentors at Dyke House were a group of girls. A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that they had received an allegation of bullying.

Joanne Geldart, a 14-year-old bullying victim, who earlier this year visited Downing Street to ask Tony Blair for more direct action on bullying, was too upset last night to talk about the tragedy.

Her mother Anne, an NSPCC campaigner, said at their home in Ferryhill, County Durham: "She doesn't want to say anything because she's a bit upset. She just wants to see bullying stopped in schools. There has to be something not right if children are dying because of it."

Joanne is pressing the Government to create an anti-bullying tsar.

Jennifer Heaviside, from Child-Call North-East, said: "It is really disturbing that this youngster felt she had to do this. It is awful.

"We would like to reassure other youngsters that they can call us anytime and talk to us about their troubles."

* Child-Call North-East can be contacted on (01642) 250760.