A TEAM of pupils have become the school Good Samaritans after being trained to look after their fellow classmates.

The 23-strong group of teenagers will be helping to counsel their colleagues at The Deane School about worries such as schoolwork, problems at home, bullying or disputes between pupils.

Staff from an organisation called the Bully Free Zone ran 20-hours of training for the young volunteers from Years 10 and 11.

They took part in role plays, were taught about confidentiality, how to be impartial and looked at hard-hitting issues affecting young people, including abuse and drugs.

The mediators, who will wear badges to make them noticeable in school, will be known as the Hear to Listen group and will be available to help in break times and lunch hours.

Similar schemes at schools such as St Joseph's High School, at Horwich, and Sharples Secondary School have proved successful and national research has revealed that youngsters feel happier approaching their peers for advice instead of an adult.

Rakhee Chavda, aged 16, is celebrating becoming a peer mediator at the same time as being the first pupil at the school to have won the Millennium Volunteer Award after notching-up more than 200 hours of voluntary work.

She said: "I've always liked helping other people, so I really wanted to do this work. A lot of the issues were scary, but I learned so much."

Bhavnisa Chauhan, aged 16, said: "I've seen things happening around school and wanted to do my bit to help."

Robert Burns, aged 16, said: "I've been a member of this school for five years and wanted to give something back."

Zahid Chohan, aged 15, said: "I've been in Year Seven and I know how daunting it can be."

Head of Year Nine, Martin Witter, said: "This will be a real help for everyone in the school, including the staff who are so overworked."