Three teenage boys could hold the key to stamping out online bullying.

Owen Bird, Ryan Edgar and Matthew Hunter, all from Cumbria, have designed a new smartphone app to tackle cyberbullying.

The year nine pupils, who attend Richard Rose Morton Academy in Carlisle, pitched Stop Cyberbullying to three judges in central London 48 hours ago to win a national schools competition.

There is now a race against time for app designers who must turn their concept into a reality.

The design, which has won support from the NSPCC, will be developed by 7billionideas Ltd.

The firm supported the United App competition run by United Learning, the organisation which sponsors the Morton school and its sister Central Academy in Carlisle.

The app will be available to download from the AppStore from the autumn.

Andrew Harding, head of computing at Morton Academy, accompanied the boys to London ahead of their three-minute pitch.

He said: "We have put so much effort in and passion and we are so excited about the future for this app.

"To have competed against more than 500 other teams and to come out victorious just shows how amazing our academy is.

"I am so proud of these three boys or did a fantastic pitch and really showcased how they can make a difference."

The boys said: "It was a great day. We enjoyed it so much. All the other entries did such and great job but we are so happy that 7billionideas along with United Learning saw the passion and effort with our idea that has the chance to help young people around the world as well as educate their parents."

David Harken, chief executive of 7billionideas, said the boys delivered "an impressive pitch", adding: "I'm sure the school is extremely proud of the boys who represented the school superbly."

Des Bird, headteacher of Morton Academy, said: "What is most heartwarming is that the students have created something useful, which will now be available to everyone across the globe.

"Preventing bullying is something we are passionate about. This app shows that as a school community we're able to make a positive difference."