Penny's Leg Trouble

Penny Lancaster StewartHer long walkers had the nation transfixed on Strictly Come Dancing.

But Penny Lancaster Stewart says her pins made her the target of bullies at school.

The six-footer has spoken out on YouTube about her not so fun schooldays.

She appears on a Beatbullying channel, on the video-sharing website, designed to help young people.

Penny says: "My main memories of school are when I was bullied.

"I had one boy race his bike up against the back of my legs and I was bleeding and I couldn't really hide that so I'd go home crying, it was very traumatic."

Stars including Girls Aloud, Leona Lewis and Dannii Minogue have also posted personal messages on the site - some of them aimed at the bullies themselves.

Girls Aloud said: "Happy-slapping may be funny to you, until it is a member of your family sat at a bus stop, being slapped."

Good on 'em for getting behind the cause, we say.