SOCCER star Les Ferdinand has backed a Bolton woman whose goal is to stamp out bullying.

Anne-Marie Dillon has been chosen to chair a new organisation which will bring together anti-bullying organisations from all over Britain.

She and other members of Bolton's "Bully Free Zone" attended the star-studded launch of the Young Mediators Network in London.

Bolton's Bully Free Zone has spawned a number of copycat projects but this is the first attempt to bring together similar organistations in a national network.

The aim of the day was to bring nearly 200 young people involved in 35 different anti-bully operations together to pool information about their work.

Anne-Marie Dillon, a long standing member of the Bolton group, has been appointed as the chairperson of the steering party of the Young Mediators Network.

She said of the launch: "At first everyone was shy but after a while everyone started exchanging information and laughing -- it was really good."

Tottenham footballer Ferdinand congratulated her and the Bully Free Zone for the commitment and outstanding contribution the young mediators have made. He told them: "Keep up the good work."

Local MPs also attended and invited Bully Free Zone representatives to visit Westminster for discussions.