Chantelle tackles the bullies

Celebrity Big Brother winner Chantelle Houghton is backing an anti-bullying campaign, it has been announced.

"I was bullied when I was in school and I wish that someone would've said 'hang on that's not acceptable' and it would've stopped," said Chantelle, 23, launching Bullywatch London.

"It's really important to tell someone in authority if you see someone being bullied. Too many people are ignoring it. And ignoring it can be as bad as doing it."

The campaign aims to boost awareness of bullying, suffered by 130,000 children each day in London, and ways it can be stopped.

She joined schoolchildren, including some former bully victims, to release 130 balloons across the River Thames.

She will be joined by Deputy London Mayor Nicky Gavron, Beatbullying Development Director John Quinn and children from Manor Park Primary School.

Mr Quinn said: "If we could just motivate the 36 percent of people who witness bullying to take safe action against it, we would see a dramatic decrease in the devastating effects of bullying.

"Children themselves have been telling us that they need adults to come forward and help in their communities."

Ms Gavron described the campaign as a call to everyone - from politicians, parents, bus-drivers and office workers alike - to do their bit.

She said: "Bullying makes life miserable for thousands of children. It can damage self-esteem and prevent children from fully participating in social activities inside and outside school."

The campaign is a backed by the Mayor of London, Beatbullying, Association of London Government and Transport for London.