An MP has warned of a "worrying growth" in bullies who use the internet and mobile phones to harass their classmates.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer criticised cyberbullying' as a "new and insidious form of intimidation and victimisation of children".

She is one of 68 MPs in Westminster calling on the Government to provide greater training for schools to ensure prevention of bullying of the disabled, cyberbullying and any other form of bullying.

The parliamentary petition welcomes Anti-Bullying Week, which ended yesterday, and congratulates schools, parents and anti-bullying organisations on their efforts to stamp out bullying in all its forms.

But the MPs admit bullying "continues to be a major problem in schools and the wider community".

They say this year's focus on the use of the internet and mobile phones by bullies is appropriate because of "the worrying growth in cyberbullying during recent years".

They call for the development of new initiatives by network service providers and internet providers to tackle the problem.

Mrs Cryer said: "Everyone knew of someone who was a bully and they avoided. It is better to talk about these things than suffer alone. It is not just children - many adults also feel bullied at work, especially when they report problems within an organisation and are accused of being a whistleblower."

The call comes after the Government announced £3 million will be available for pilot schemes across the country to train older pupils in "conflict resolution."