A BUDDY bench for children feeling upset or lonely is proving successful at one York primary school.

Badger Hill Primary School is the first school in York to take delivery of a special wooden bench in a new scheme being run by the NSPCC . The "friendship stop" bench is designed as a place for children to go if they have a problem, and then other children are encouraged to go and talk to them.

Head teacher Alyson Roberts said: "The bench helps to reinforce the ethos of our school of the importance of friendship.

"We have explained to children through our assemblies what the bench is there for and so far it has been in continual use."

Updated: 10:37 Friday, October 05, 2001