A student who invented Blue Fridays at school has won an award for helping to tackle bullying.

Mark Anderson, who is in year ten at John Spence Community and Sports College, North Tyneside, was yesterday awarded first prize in the annual Karl Peart Award.

The award was set up in memory of Karl, from Ashington, Northumberland, who took his own life two years ago after he was bullied.

Mark had the idea of Blue Friday to mark the end of National Anti-Bullying Week on Friday - and the idea was taken up nationally by the Anti-Bullying Alliance.

Val McFarlane, North-East anti-bullying co-ordinator said: "Mark is a peer supporter in his school and, during a conversation about anti-bullying week, he said it would be a good idea to have Blue Friday.

"On this day, schools could have non-uniform days and all pupils and staff could wear blue clothes, along with blue anti-bullying wrist bands. Events could be organised to raise awareness about bullying during Blue Friday."

The second prize was won by David Debie, 15, of Framwellgate School, Durham. The third prize was shared by Jodie Duffy, 15, of Blackfyne Community School, Consett, County Durham, and Faye Sewell, ten, of West Walker Primary School, Newcastle.

The prizegiving was at Durham County Hall.