Youngsters are being warned of the dangers of the latest mobile phone bullying craze before they move up to secondary school.

Healthcare workers were today spelling out the problems of "happy-slapping" - which involves youths filming each other assaulting youngsters or adults on their mobile phones and posting the footage on the internet.

Community health workers from Airedale Primary Care Trust held a Transition Day at Keighley's Highfield Centre for youngsters from feeder primary schools to warn them of potential dangers ahead of their move to secondary school in September.

About 160 children, aged ten and 11, from Keighley primary schools including St Anne's, Our Lady of Victory and St Joseph's, joined healthcare workers to learn how they can protect themselves and what to do if they fall foul of bullies.

Men's health advisor and Airedale PCT's anti-bullying co-ordinator Merv Pemberton visits pupils in schools to talk to them about bullying and offers support for victims, as well as talking to the people who bully.

"Bullying by text and e-mails has been a common problem for some time now in many schools," he said. "However I am concerned that it is becoming more vicious with this latest craze of 'happy slapping'.

"We have been talking about mobile phones and text bullying for about two years. We have been talking about 'happy slapping' for about six or seven months.

"When I go into schools I do workshops and role play and I have had kids say it's happening to them. It is happening on our doorstep. E-mail bullying is a big problem. People do it because they cannot be seen.

"Bullies are cowards and they don't want to be seen so they don't get caught."

As part of his session, Merv includes a role play which focuses on bullying using a mobile to raise awareness of the issue and he will meet the youngsters again for a follow-up session in September when they start their new school.

"This is a really difficult time for young people joining a new, much bigger school," he said. "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.

"I think the message is getting through. Even though some of the schools where I work have not had big problems, I think the schools are taking it on board and treating it seriously."

Merv himself was bullied when he was at school by a group of pupils from another school because he was good at sport so he knows at first hand how difficult it can be for youngsters to talk to someone about the problem.

"I did not tell my parents," he said. "I told my oldest brother and he came into school and worked with the teachers and the school and it stopped. I never got bullied after that.

"If you are being bullied you must talk to someone. Children don't always want to talk because they do not know what the reception will be but if you get the right help and support you can do it."

If you are being bullied and want to talk to someone, call Childline in confidence on 0800 1111.=