A teenager has been told to "slit her wrists" by bullies who insulted her on social media and made her life a misery with hateful messages.

Malling School pupil Aimee Birke burst into tears when she was targeted along with other pupils at her school.

The 16-year-old’s mother also revealed her daughter's face had been superimposed onto film posters for a movie about suicide.

Sarah Smith, from East Malling, said: “There are boys that have always been a bit louder and they have enjoyed picking on other pupils for a while.

“They then paid a bit more attention to one of my daughter’s friends who posted something on Snapchat and they ripped it out of her.”

Miss Smith, a tearoom supervisor, is hoping that by highlighting the issue of cyber bullying she can help prevent similar situations at other schools.

The 36-year-old said: “A couple of weeks ago my daughter came into my room at 2am absolutely crying her eyes out and she showed me all the messages she had received.

"They photoshopped her face onto pictures from a film called 13 Reasons Why which is about suicide" - mum Sarah Smith

“She had been invited into a group chat about a barbecue and during that conversation people were telling her to slit her wrists.

“They photoshopped her face onto pictures from a film called 13 Reasons Why which is about suicide.”

Miss Smith went to the school, situated in Beech Road, the following day and demanded answers as to why the culprits were getting away with their endless bullying.

She added: “They said they were going to speak to the other parents and they were shocked it was happening.

“But they are still laughing and they are still at school. They haven’t been excluded.

"They have got away with it. I just hope this doesn’t happen to any other parent or child.”

Carl Roberts, head teacher at The Malling School, confirmed the school has dealt with the issue and a zero tolerance policy on bullying is in place.

He said: “The Malling School takes bullying very seriously and in this case has been working hard with all of the students involved as well as their parents.

“Although this case involves social media posts made outside of school hours, and is therefore a matter for the police to investigate, we feel we have a moral duty towards our pupils to help if we can.

“Where mediation does not resolve bullying issues the school takes a firm line and will ultimately exclude a pupil should it continue.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called to reports of online bullying involving a child in the East Malling area.

"Officers have contacted the child’s parents and will also be liaising with the school."