Boy 'was bullied to suicide'

A boy of 11 took a fatal overdose yesterday after being bullied at school, his mother said. Thomas Thompson swallowed painkillers at his home in Wallasey, Merseyside.

Sandra Thompson, 33, found him just after 7pm and called an ambulance but he died before reaching hospital.

She said her son was taunted at Wallasey School. "This was a cry for help. I have no words to describe the people who persecuted him other than I hate them. They can hang their heads in shame."

Thomas, who wanted to be a science teacher, was interested in politics and regularly attended anti-war rallies.

Martin Pope, his headteacher, offered his sympathy to the family. But he added: "Thomas was receiving support from pastoral staff and a learning mentor for a range of issues, including poor attendance ... There were no reports of bullying in the school."

The death was not being treated as suspicious, a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said.