Children at hundreds of schools are being given cards with information about what to do if they are bullied.

The cards are being handed to every child at school in West Sussex.

They have telephone numbers for Childline, the national children's charity, and useful website addresses.

Andy Lawrenson, youth project coordinator at West Sussex County Council, said the cards would give practical options to children who feel helpless.

He said: "It's a very small card that has messages written on it saying things like Remember it's not your fault' and No one deserves to be bullied'.

"There was a strategy a few years ago where teachers were asked to hand cards to children if they thought they were in danger of being bullied but it had the reverse effect and made them targets.

"If children are seen to be going for help they can be singled out so we're giving the cards to all children."

Two pupils at Durrington Middle School in Salvington Road, Worthing, said the cards would help.

Ella Graysmark, nine, said: "They're really good. They've got information about what we should do if we're bullied."

Her 12-year-old brother Ben said: "It's a good idea. The cards will give people confidence they can do something about being bullied.

"The people on the helplines can do things like organise friends to walk to school with."

Eight-year-old Callum Dann said: "They're an excellent idea." Jess Dann, 11, said: "They're going to help a lot of people."

Deputy headteacher Simon Wood said: "It's a good idea and it ties in with a lot of the work we do to stop bullying at the school."

Children have been given blue anti-bullying wristbands and are encouraged to persuade friends to get help if they are bullied.

The West Sussex Action Against Bullying group, which includes council officers, runs a project at Bognor Regis Community College called M8s, which has 70 members and helps former bullies change their behaviour.

It also organises theatrical and film-making workshops for bullies and their victims.