Bullying in parks and town centres is to be tackled in the strategy

East Sussex County Council claims the move is the first of its kind and will see bullying tackled wherever it occurs in the community, not just in schools.

The strategy is being developed at a conference in Eastbourne on Wednesday.

The authority hopes to stamp out bullying in parks, town centres, on public transport and also in chat rooms and through text messages.

'Practical steps'

Councillor Daphne Bagshawe, chair of East Sussex County Council, said: "We believe East Sussex will be the first to deliver a strategy that involves the collective will of the whole community to take practical steps to stop bullying.

"Schools and colleges alone cannot prevent bullying - our children and young people continue to bear witness to that.

"The only effective system to deal with bullying is one that tackles the problem wherever it occurs, and schools and colleges will play a big part in that."

More than 100 delegates will attend the conference to work on the strategy including representatives from the Department for Skills and Education, the county's youth parliament, the police, health and social services.

Head teachers and education professionals will also be in attendance.

The strategy is being developed in response to concerns of children and young people at a youth conference in October where bullying was cited as their main worry.