They're ready, willing and able to step in to help classmates in need.

The only problem for these newly-trained Peer Mediators is that Challenge College, Bradford, is such a happy place there's little for them to do.

The group of 14 and 15-year-olds volunteered for an evening course to learn the skills needed to take on their new role. The weekly sessions with school learning mentor Lynn Needham and Ruth Dennis, an educational psychologist, involved advice on what to do in different situations, which the young trainees developed through role plays.

Their training complete, they have now got a rota drawn up which puts two of them on duty in the playground every break time and lunch period. They are raring to go - but have not exactly been run off their feet yet.

Miss Needham, who developed the idea, said: "The only problem is that one or two are saying they're bored because they have not yet had much to do. They have given up their own time to do this and have been really committed. They've been extremely positive and enthusiastic."

The youngsters are not expected to enforce school rules like a prefect would, but, instead, are meant to be a friendly face for less confident and younger students who do not feel able to approach teachers with problems.

The young people have put together their own funding application to the Youthbank charity for cash to pay for baseball caps to make them more easily distinguished around school, walkie talkies and stationery materials.

Peer mediator Marc Singh, 15, from Eccleshill, added: "We're here to straighten out the kinks in school. Things like arguments or disagreements that could turn into something else. We want to help the society that we're in but it's also fun to help out."

Colleague Sehrish Mirza, 14, said: "The youngest pupils new to the school will probably need the most help. We are here to help them and I think that will make them more confident around school."