A BULLIED deaf girl has decided to move 90 miles from home to escape her tormentors.

Former Sharples School pupil Leanne Smith is due to attend a three-day trial at a residential college in Derby.

If successful, it will lead to a permanent move to the Midlands.

The 13-year-old was pulled out of Sharples School, Hill Cot Road, by her mother, Karen Royle, earlier this summer.

This followed claims she had been bullied for 18 months.

Since then, Leanne has stayed at home in Wilton Gardens, Radcliffe, while Bury's education and social services departments have tried to fix her up with a new school.

Miss Royle, aged 37, was given two choices -- a school in Stockport and the Derby College for Deaf People.

But she and her daughter have been so impressed by the institution in Derby, they have decided to decline the offer of a look around the school in Stockport.

And the move, according to Miss Royle, will see her family up sticks to Derby to be near Leanne.

She said: "The school is lovely and they have everything down to a tee.

"There's an audiology department, dedicated computers and only eight pupils to a class.

"But the best thing is that the children never seem to be left alone and are always in view of an adult.

"I won't be making the same mistake as I made with Sharples.

"I'm going to be in very regular contact with the school in Derby to the point where they'll be sick of me. That way I'll be sure she is all right."

Alarm bells rang for Miss Royle when Leanne complained of numerous stomach aches which always cleared up when she was given the day off school.

Leanne, who became profoundly deaf after suffering from meningitis aged three, later admitted she had made up the condition in a bid to avoid bullies.

Miss Royle said: "At first, I was threatened with legal action for leaving Leanne at home but now people are realising I want the best for her."

Kevin Clarke, headteacher at Sharples School, refused to discuss Leanne's case but stressed his policy was to investigate concerns raised by parents and pupils.

He said: "If there are any issues with individual pupils they are investigated thoroughly and appropriate action is taken.

"We are a caring school and we do whatever we can to help all of our pupils.

"The Hearing Impaired Unit at Sharples has been successful for more than 10 years in providing quality education for pupils with hearing impairments and integrating them into the school."