Pupils from Clevedon Community School have trained as cyber mentors to help fellow pupils tackle issues with bullying.

A group of 20 students aged between 11 and 17 were trained as part of the national Beat Bullying initiative to work as cyber mentors throughout the school. Each has set up a profile on the Cyber Mentors website, so pupils who are suffering at the hands of bullies –either in school or online –can log on and talk through their problems.

People can use either a chat room on the site or choose to talk to one of the cyber mentors on a one-to-one basis on line.

Historically bullies used to operate in the playground, but with advances in technology, more and more young people are targeted on sites such as Facebook and MSN.

Clevedon is the first school in North Somerset to sign up to the scheme, which is already used by thousands of students across the country.

It has also linked up to the system nationally, allowing students and cyber mentors from across the UK to link into Clevedon's service.

The cyber mentors wear special blue widget badges as part of their uniform.

Cyber mentor Kat Bell, 17, said: "I think the cyber mentoring scheme is a really good idea.

"We can give people help and advice and talk through their problems in private and anonymously."

The scheme will be officially launched next week as part of the school's Anti Bullying Week with the message, Stay Safe in Cyber Space.

Pupils will be told about the initiative in a number of special assemblies.

Cyber mentor, Sophie Bebic, 11, said: "The training was fun, but it was shocking to learn what bullying can do to young people.

"By becoming cyber mentors, we are using all the new technology in a positive way to help others."

Students have also been visiting primary schools in the town to tell them about the scheme and their work as cyber mentors.

The school also runs a successful peer listeners group, with 68 students specially trained to provide a listening ear to pupils encountering problems.

Each peer listener wears a purple hoodie to make them easily identifiable in school.

A special peer listeners room has also been set up within the school where students can meet the volunteers and talk through issues from bullying to healthy eating.

The peer listeners operate a rota system, meaning someone is always on hand if a student needs help.

The school was presented with a national Leading Aspect Award in recognition of its peer listening scheme.

Clevedon Community School director of learning and teacher responsible for anti bullying, Rose Fox, said: "We do not encounter a lot of bullying at the school, but if there is an incident, pupils know that there are ways for them to access help and advice."

Students are now busy up drawing designs for a mouse mat and key fob for a competition to promote the launch of the cyber mentoring scheme.

Clevedon Community School headteacher, John Wells, said: "I am very proud of the students who have given their time to train as cyber mentors for this project."