BULLYING can make the best days of your life the worst. And the effects of being traumatised in the playground can last a lifetime.

Now, teachers from 75 Swindon schools are joining forces to blitz the bullies.

A conference being held this week will give schools the chance to swap tactics on tackling classroom thugs.

It will be the first event of its kind in the town and features speakers from Childline and the South West Anti-Bullying Alliance.

The aim of the conference, at the Oakfield Campus on Thursday is to develop a unified approach, and teachers will sign up to the Government's Bullying A Charter for Action scheme.

A series of workshops will allow teachers to debate specific issues around bullying.

Schoolchildren are also taking part and will give a presentation on bullying. Childline's Lindsay Gilbert, who is taking part, said 31,000 call the phoneline every year about about bullying.

"Childline recognises bullying as one of the most important issues affecting children and young people," she said.

"We hear at first hand the devastating impact it can have on young people's lives.

"By listening to what children tell us, and working with schools to address bullying in a proactive way, Childline aims to ensure that fewer children suffer the terrible effects of being bullied."

The event is being organised by several agencies, including Swindon Council, Wiltshire Constabulary, the borough's Youth Offending Team and the NSPCC.

It is being sponsored by local businesses.

Swindon schools have recently introduced several measures to stamp out bullying.

These include buddy benches, where children can go if they feel intimidated and get help from other pupils.

Tamash Lal