Friends of Laura said she had suffered bullying in the past

Laura Rhodes, 13, died after taking a suspected overdose.

Hilton Dawson MP, who chairs the parliamentary group on children, wants a legal duty for those working with children to protect them from bullying.

It would make teachers, schools and local authorities liable to prosecution if they failed.

Laura, who had attended Cefn Saeson school in Neath but left some months before her death , left behind a letter describing how unhappy bullying had made her.

The letter told of how she feared being bullied and her feelings of self-loathing as a result.

Mr Dawson chairs the parliamentary group on children

Mr Dawson, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, is trying to amend the Children Bill to bring in the new legislation.

At the moment, schools are only "advised" to have an anti-bullying policy.

The campaign group Arch - Action on Rights for Children - is supporting Mr Dawson's suggestion.

Policy director Terri Dowty said: "We need urgent action to change this culture completely.

"Schools must become places where bullying can not happen because everyone takes responsibility for stopping it.

"Some schools are doing a fantastic job of eliminating bullying, but it takes real commitment and effort.

The death of Laura Rhodes was a harrowing story that underlines the despair felt both by Laura and her family Terri Dowty, Arch

"If some schools can manage it, there's no excuse for the others.

"There is plenty of material and advice on effective strategies.

"There's also plenty of evidence that they work," she added.

Ms Dowty said policies and charters alone were not enough.

"What is the point when some head teachers refuse even to admit that bullying is going on in their schools?" she asked.

""It is just not good enough to say schools must have an anti-bullying policy.

Pact

"It is time the law held schools and LEAs to account for whether it is effective or not.

"The death of Laura Rhodes was a harrowing story that underlines the despair felt both by Laura and her family.

"There are far too many children driven to breaking-point by bullying, and parents themselves are now taking action."

Laura and her friend Rebecca Ling, 14, from Birmingham, ran away from Laura's home after going on a family holiday.

They ran away when Rebecca was due to return home to start school, but police found them in Bath and brought them back to Neath.

Hours later, the pair carried out an apparent suicide pact.

Rebecca survived and is still being treated in hospital in Birmingham.

Laura's funeral was held on Wednesday.

Her former school, Cefn Saeson, said the school took bullying very seriously.