EDUCATION chiefs in Lancashire are drawing up guidelines to help teachers deal with bullying following repeated calls for action from victims and their families.

A working group is being set up by Lancashire County Council in a bid to deal with the growing problem of intimidation and threats in the classroom.

Recent alarming incidents in East Lancashire schools have included a baseball attack in Rishton and the constant persecution of a Clitheroe schoolgirl.

And bullying ended in tragedy in Accrington when youngster Reg Grist died after a stone was thrown at his head.

Children's charities such as Childline have been alarmed by the increasing number of pleas for help from the bullies' victims.

The Samaritans are also deeply concerned about the number of phone calls they get from frightened youngsters. County Hhall has now decided to tackle the problem by setting up a working group of experts.

It is hoped educational psychologists, teachers, the police, churches, parents and social workers will all be involved in the initiative.

The findings of the group will be used to produce a guide called Handbook for Schools on Dealing With and Preventing Bullying.

Headteachers are already required to take any measures necessary to deal with the problem under the recently introduced Education Act.

A report to a county council education sub-committee said: "It is clear from all the evidence available that bullying will occur from time to time in all schools. "In Lancashire, the response has been to strongly encourage schools to develop a whole school policy relating to bullying and to ensure they have clear procedures for both prevention and dealing with incidents."

The report goes on: "There is evidence that levels of concerns amongst parents on this issue are rising.

"Having discussed bullying and the issues relating to schools in Lancashire, inspectors and welfare officers are recommending that the authority produces a handbook.

"The handbook would cover not only bullying in the school amongst pupils but also bullying in the schools as a workplace and within the local community."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.