An anguished 11-year-old boy hanged himself from his bunk bed after being subjected to months of bullying on the school bus, an inquest heard today.

Ben Vodden was found unconscious by his father Paul with shoelaces wrapped round his neck and tied to his bunk at the family home on December 12 last year.

Earlier, he had returned home from school on the bus where he had endured name calling, gesturing and swearing since starting at his secondary school last September.

The inquest heard the bus driver, Brian McCullogh, had been responsible for some of the name calling, allegedly labelling him Billie No Mates and D***head.

Ben's mother, Caroline Vodden, broke down as she described seeing her son return home in torment at the bullying, saying it started on his second day at Tanbridge House School in Horsham, West Sussex, when he had his tie taken from him on the bus.

She also said he had to leave behind his blazer on one occasion to break free from bullies physically obstructing him from leaving the vehicle.

The inquest heard that on the morning of his death he left for school, he sent his father a text message stating: "Please can you bring my gel. PS. They are doing it again."

Mrs Vodden said she and her husband interpreted the last comment to mean Ben was being bullied again.

Later, he returned home appearing fine until Mrs Vodden received a phone call from the school reporting that Ben had been taken off the bus on his way home because he had been hitting the air vent and making a gesture at the driver.

After confronting Ben, Mrs Vodden said: "He immediately got very angry and defensive and asked what the school had said.

"He said 'I won't tell you and I can't tell you'. I followed him and stopped him from leaving the room. I said 'Sweetheart, you have got to tell me because we can't help you unless you tell me what has happened'."

After again refusing to divulge further details, Ben retreated to his bedroom. Mrs Vodden said that after a short while he emerged and gave her a hug and said: "I'm sorry, mummy."

He then went back into his bedroom and closed the door before Mrs Vodden said she heard him sobbing like she had never heard him crying before.

A short while later, his father returned home from work in Southwater, near Horsham, and walked into Ben's bedroom with the intention of asking him about his problems to find him hanging.

The hearing continues.