WILTSHIRE College’s student union in Chippenham has won a national award for its efforts to combat bullying.

The union organised an anti-bullying poster competition for children aged nine to ten at Monkton Park Primary School. It also bought them 30 citizenship books teaching valuable social lessons about choices that will affect them in later life.

The student union has donated more than 100 interactive Barney & Echo books to three primary schools over the past three years.

Monkton Park headteacher John Barlow said: “This experience has been very positive for the children. It supports the anti-bullying work we do in school and the positive message about staying safe.

“Most importantly the children have identified with the stories, they enjoyed them and the message has got across.”

The award, run in association with the Police Community Clubs of Great Britain, celebrates the efforts of those actively helping young people to become positive members of their communities.

Wiltshire College principal Di Dale said: “Projects like this are great because they link us with our community and it has brought the college into the lives of the pupils at Monkton Park at a local level.”