SCHOOLS have been issued with new guidelines to crack down on a worrying rise in cases of "cyber-bullying" on mobile phones and via the internet.

Research by the Anti-Bullying Alliance has revealed that as many as one in five pupils in the UK have experienced bullying by one of these two methods.

Schools minister Jim Knight has said that bullying in cyberspace needed to be treated with the same vigilance as in the playground.

Cllr Marion Clayton, portfolio holder for schools at Buckinghamshire County Council, has condemned cyber-bullying and said the guidelines will be closely looked at by the council.

She said: "This is a nasty way of bullying. It is bad enough to be bullied in the playground but doing it by remote seems much worse. It is something we have to be aware of."

The council is currently putting together a new anti-bullying strategy for schools ahead of the new school year starting in September.

Nigel Cook, lead officer for anti-bullying at the council, said the cyber-bullying guidelines will be incorporated into the strategy.

He said: "There are many types of bullying. Cyber-bullying is a relatively new thing. There is a lot of good anti-bullying work going on in schools and this strategy will complement that."

The Tackling Cyber-bullying guidelines, available from the Department for Education and Skills website, have also been aimed at parents and pupils.

Mr Knight said: "Unlike other forms of bullying, cyber-bullying can follow children and young people into their private spaces and outside school hours. This is why it is essential that parents and young people themselves should understand how to use technologies safely to protect themselves at home and outside school hours, as well as supporting their schools in dealing with incidents."

The document recommends that schools' anti-bullying policies should include strategies to deal with bullying via the internet or mobile phones and have clear rules about youngsters bringing phones into school.

The monitoring of all electronic communications in schools has also been recommended, and parents have been encouraged to ensure that their child knows how to use technology safely and the consequences of misuse.

Children have also been advised not to respond to abusive emails, phone calls or text messages, and always tell an adult and consult with their service provider about ways to block calls or trace the messages.