Children in Keighley have been warned of the dangers of being bullied via mobile phones, as part of a new health initiative.

Community health workers from Airedale Primary Care Trust ran the session on Wednesday during a special awareness day to prepare pupils who start at Holy Family secondary school in September.

Around 160 pupils, aged 10 and 11, attended the day from several schools including St Anne's, St Joseph's and Our Lady of Victories primary schools.

The main warnings given to the children were to not take their mobile phone to school and to not give out the mobile phone numbers of fellow pupils.

The pupils were also advised to let someone know if they were a victim of bullying -- by phone texting or otherwise -- and to take care in areas where they were most likely to be at risk of being bullied, such as in corridors and the toilets.

Merv Pemberton, (pictured) men's health advisor, who himself was bullied at school, said: "Bullying by text and e-mails has been a common problem for some time now in many schools.

"However, I am concerned that it is becoming more vicious with this latest craze of 'happy slapping'.

"This is a really difficult time for young people, joining a new, much bigger school. They can feel very isolated at first and we try to teach them to look out for each other, especially during the first few months."

As part of his session, Mr Pemberton included a role play which focused on bullying, using a mobile phone to raise awareness of the issue.

He will also have a follow up session with the children in September when they start at Holy Family School.