BULLIES beware. A new pupil-led scheme is stamping bullying out of one Newport school.

In 2003, the Argus highlighted a number of allegations of bullying made by Duffryn pupils.

We ran an anti-bullying campaign, which also highlighted a number of allegations at other Gwent schools.

Now the Peer Active Listening Scheme (PALS) at Duffryn High School is run by pupils for pupils.

It aims to offer victims with a friendly and approachable ear.

Teacher Sue Griffiths told the Argus since PALS was launched in September they had been able to identify and address far more cases.

She said: "This scheme is a powerful tool. It shows we do take bullying seriously and have tough procedures in place to deal with it.

"We want to work together to stamp out bullying."

Last autumn the Argus ran an anti-bullying campaign after a number of pupils at city schools, including Duffryn, complained of being bullied.

Now as part of the new scheme 14 Year 12 students have been trained by a professional counsellor.

Each student is linked with a year seven class and gives up their own time to man a special drop-in room where pupils can take their problems and get advice.

There is also a box in the school library where pupils can put their concerns on paper.

Year 12 pupil Lauren Duffield, 17, said she volunteered for the scheme because of her own experience of bullying.

She said: "I know what it's like to be in that situation and if I can help someone else going through it then I will. And as we are pupils the children can relate to us far more than a teacher."

Runa Begum, 16, is also taking part in the scheme.

She said: "Our main aim is to make the pupil more confident, to empower them so they can do something about the bullying rather than us sorting it out for them.