THE mother of a North-East bullying victim has backed moves by one youngster to sue her local authority for the ill treatment she suffered at school.

The woman, from Darlington, who cannot be named for legal reasons, says it is only right that if blame can be attached to the authority legal action should be taken.

Her 16-year-old daughter suffered a fractured cheekbone and a cracked skull after being attacked by two girl bullies.

Leah Bradford-Smart, 19, of Crawley, Sussex, is demanding £75,000 compensation from West Sussex County Council which she says failed to protect her from her tormentors.

The 42-year-old woman said: "I agree with what this girl is trying to do and if I could sue on behalf of my daughter I would. In her case, though, the school was actually quite good and we don't have a problem with them.

"She is now back at school but is having to be counselled and we have been told it could take eight years before she is back to normal.

"There is lot of bullying going on at schools but people are often too frightened to complain about it."

The bullies involved in the Darlington case, Marie Booth and Hayley Short, were sentenced to two and-a-half years detention each at Teesside Crown Court, last week.