The computer whizz kid fended off competition from year 11 pupils in secondary schools across the borough in the design challenge set by Wigan Council's education authority.

Simon's winning entry was judged the best from hundreds and has been adopted by the education authority, whose staff will have the design printed on their mouse mats.

Simon, 16, said: "The competition was run to promote anti cyberbullying through text messaging and webchatting through services like MSN.
"I put together my design in a social life studies lesson and included images of a computer and a mobile phone which I thought were pretty eyecatching.

"It's great to have my design win considering there were hundreds of people of my age who entered the competition."
The digital age has brought with it new ways to bully, slander and abuse.

Bullying by e-mail, over the phone and by text message has become increasingly common, as has the use of digital cameras and camera
phones to record 'happy slapping' attacks on people.

Using abusive and threatening comments in chat rooms, discussion boards and instant messaging is also all too common.

According to recent government studies, more than a third of 12 to 15-year-olds have faced some kind of cyberbullying.
The Deanery High School, on Frog Lane, has a number of systems in place
to combat it.

Kerr Derbyshire, Simon's form tutor, said: "Form 11 CX had just 45 minutes to design and produce their mats for the competition.
"Simon's in particular was creative and gives a really effective anti-bullying message."

Simon is currently preparing for his GCSE exams and hopes to get the grades that will take him to Winstanley College to study geography, history, English, and geology.

Simon, from Glenside Appley Bridge, said: "I'm not sure whether I would like a job which would involve a lot of technology and computers.
"For the moment I'm just keeping my options open."