Pupils from English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, in Catcote Road, Hartlepool, are making a short film to spread the message about the devastating affects of crime and bullying.

A group of six Year 11 pupils have also written and recorded a song with the help of the team The Studio, in Tower Street, Hartlepool.

The lyrics surround the theme 'respect' and provide the soundtrack to the film. Six youngsters set up the group, that meets at lunch time and after school, off their own backs and looked at reports in the news of attacks in public and in the playground.

They were particularly saddened by the death of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor, who was killed in November 2000 in south London.

Curriculum co-ordinator Terry Curren said: "They were upset by the fact that young people were being attacked.

"They wrote the song and went down to the studio and recorded it, and the song is about respect."

He explained that the film portrays scenes of crime and bullying, while the song's lyrics include chanting of the word respect.

The group plan to take their message to the Prince's Trust in London, who helped fund the project, and also Hartlepool MP Iain Wright, in the hope that they will distribute copies to other schools.