Increasing numbers of children claim they carry knives and bottles to defend themselves against bullies, according to a report based on children in care.

The document was written by Roger Morgan, the children’s rights director for England, who said bullying by mobile phones and websites was rising.

It says more children carry weapons, but children’s minister Kevin Brennan said knife incidents remain "rare".

Two-thirds of the 319 children surveyed said bullying was getting worse.

Mr Morgan, who is based at the education watchdog Ofsted, said: "Bullying was once considered the domain of the school playground.

"But more and more children and young people we spoke to are now suffering at the hands of bullies in many places - at home, in the classroom, in the street, and now even online."

Bullying often extends beyond fights to the internet.

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