Hundreds of children released blue balloons sharing messages of love and kindness as part of Anti-Bullying Week.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Balloon release to mark anti-bullying week. Marks Gate Infant School, Lawn Farm Grove, Dagenham RM6 5LL.Balloon release to mark anti-bullying week. Marks Gate Infant School, Lawn Farm Grove, Dagenham RM6 5LL. (Image: Archant)

Pupils at Marks Gate Infant School in Lawn Farm Grove spent last week learning about treating fellow pupils nicely through a range of activities.

These culminated in a special assembly on Thursday when parents were invited to attend as the whole school – all 320 pupils – wore blue, the symbolic anti-bullying colour, and released blue balloons into the sky.

Parent support advisor Pam Webb explained: “Each child wrote a message like “be kind” or even just drew pictures of children playing together to show being nice to each other, on tags which were then tied to the balloons.”

“There was a very good atmosphere in the school, even though it was a very cold blustery day. Seeing all the balloons going up was amazing.”