ANTI-BULLYING campaigners have received a national award in recognition of their work.

Budmouth Technology College students Rachel Fullegar, Amy Desmond and Emma Owens received the Diana anti-bullying award from South Dorset MP Jim Knight.

They received the national award, which was specifically set up to recognise young people who work to reduce bullying, at the Chickerell college's prizegiving ceremony.

The girls were recognised for their groundbreaking work in setting up their own mentoring schemes and speaking at national conventions about mentoring and bullying.

A-level student Rachel, 16, said: "Mentoring is a service for younger students to help them make it through any problems with bullying or self-confidence they have and to achieve their goals.

"The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation named Budmouth as one of the top two schools nationally in mentoring and the organisation is really, really supportive of us."

The foundation became interested in the girls' work after they set up their own schemes at Budmouth, including "mini mentoring" for younger students.

The girls were then invited to run anti-bullying workshops, and speak about their work to around 300 people, at Birmingham's NEC Centre.

Rachel also took one of her mentees to meet Jim Knight at the Houses of Parliament to discuss their programme.

Rachel, who has herself overcome problems with bullying, said: "Basically I told him that mentoring does work and that we've had less bullying in the college since we started. I said that this work needs to be put into practice in other schools and he's been really supportive of us.

"I think we've showed young people can make a difference for others, both in school and out of school. To be recognised in this way now is fantastic."

Mr Knight said: "Budmouth is well-known nationally for the excellent work they do on using mentoring to reduce bullying. The work Rachel, Amy and Emma have done is remarkable, not only as a success for Budmouth but also in the way they have been promoting their approach to people in the school system nationally.

"I was particularly pleased to give a certificate to one of Rachel's mentees who I also talked to at the House of Commons who has now become a mentor."

Around 50 Budmouth students were recognised for their parts in student support programmes at the awards ceremony.