YOUNGSTERS across the UK will be taught an anti-bullying message thanks to a song written in Witney.

Witney-based firm Shrill Productions has written the official song for Anti-Bullying Week, which starts today under the theme ‘Stop and Think – Words can Hurt’.

The song, entitled Goliath, is part of the company’s musical, Stand Tall, which was originally performed in Witney but has just finished a run in London.

One of the song’s writer’s, Mike Dove, said: “It is fantastic.

“We are a Witney-based company and we have been able to work with a national charity to spread this powerful message.”

Mr Dove and his team were approached by the Anti -Bullying Alliance to run a competition after their musical won the Princess Diana award.

Three of the musical’s songs were sent to every school in England and youngsters were asked to pick their favourite.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance later picked one of the schools out of a hat to perform the song – the William Beamont Community High School in Warrington.

Mr Dove and his team then travelled up to Cheshire to record the song with 19 members of the school’s choir.

He said: “It was great fun.

“They were a little bit nervous at first but after a few run-throughs they were really good and were really getting into it.”

He added: “For us to see schools around the country singing songs from our show make us very proud.”

The song will be available on the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s website and schools across England will be performing it during Anti-Bullying Week.

Anti-Bullying Alliance spokes-man Richard Newson said: “Stand Tall is a really fun way to get young people thinking about the serious issue of bullying and ties in nicely with the theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week: ‘Stop and Think – Words can Hurt’, which aims to highlight the harm that name-calling and derogatory language can cause.”

For more information, visit antibullyingalliance.org.uk