THE world's strongest man visited a school in Tottenham last Friday promoting the mesage that mental strength wins when it comes to battling the bullies - after pulling a double decker bus full of school kids.

Dave Gauder, or Big Dave', who holds 17 uncontested world records, visited Year Seven pupils at Northumberland Park School, to perform his stunt and talk to pupils as part of Anti-Bullying week.

After capturing their attention by towing the double decker Arriva bus 30 to 40 feet down Worcester Avenue, the 38-year-old told pupils: "Pulling that bus took a lot of physical strength, but I'm here to tell you that each and everyone of you is as strong as me.

"Looking at me now, you wouldn't believe I was bullied but I was. It's not because I'm big and strong that I stopped getting bullied it was because I became more confident. And that is the real strength - what's going on in the mind."

Big Dave, who once pulled a concorde weighing over one hundred tonnes, was bullied as a child because of his quiet nature.

Fve older boys became regular tormentors calling him names, attacking him and eventually forcing him into a life of petty crime until he eventually confessed to his parents about what was happening.

He said: "Bullies use fear to take control of your life with the threat that if you tell someone things will get worse. But things can't get worse than being bullied.

"It's not cool or hard to rob and steal and I only did those things because I was frightened. I don't want you to be frightened like I was, so remember these three words for the rest of your life: talk, talk, talk. Tell somebody."

After hearing the talk Amanda Sywak,11, said: "He is really cool. Pulling the bus shows us that even if something seems impossible you should never give up which is what you should do if you are being bullied. You have to be strong within yourself even when things seem hard."

The event was organised by PC Tim Allpress, school liason officer, who often deals with incidents of bullying.

He said: "We're delighted that Big Dave has agreed to speak to and entertain pupils in Haringey.

"Despite increased awareness and the good work many schools do, it can still be very difficult for victims to speak out. Dave has been through the same experiences many youngsters suffer and can tell first hand what it was like for him and how he overcame the bullies."