SIR: I cried when I read about 13-year-old Vijay Singh like many other people, but it struck home because my 15-year-old daughter was bullied this year and is still off school after attempting suicide by taking 60 tablets.

She was viciously set upon by a mob of about 20 schoolchildren, some her own age, some older. They stoned her, spat on her, called her filthy names, formed a chain running at her to knock her down every time she tried to get up, and one girl put a tie round her neck and choked her saying "let's strangle her to death".

She eventually bravely struggled back to school even though she felt physically sick at the thought, only to be set upon again by a mob of about 10, on a so-called supervised country walk with the school.

Since then I refused to send her again and the people concerned are continuing their education.

My daughter has lost all her confidence and will never get over this, as that young boy wrote she will never forget it. Why aren't there stronger measures against these bullies. All they got was a 'slap on the hand'.

If we parents and the bullied children could go round the schools, perhaps someone would listen.

A Parent, Bolton

(Name and address supplied)

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