A TEENAGER nearly driven to suicide by bullies has gone on national television to tell how he has had the last laugh by changing his life round.

Ashley Carter, 17, from Hope Corner Lane, Taunton, appeared on Loose Women explaining how two boys made his life a misery by taunting him, tripping him up, pinning him against a wall, waiting outside his house and chasing after him.

But Ashley, who was born with a rare genetic disorder that causes underdeveloped facial bones, couldn't be happier now after securing a job and working for a charity to counter bullying.

Following his appearance on the ITV daytime show, Ashley, who has Treacher Collins syndrome, told the County Gazette: "I explained how I felt when they were bullying me and felt I wanted to end my life if they carried on.

"If it wasn't for my family, I wouldn't be here. Their support has been amazing.

"I hated those two boys so much. The bullying has stopped, but I still don't like them.

"I see them sometimes in town or in shops and they say, 'Hello'. I think, 'Like, really? You're talking to me after what you've done to me?'

"When it was at its worst, at eight or nine, I didn't really have many friends. I didn't like going out or meeting up with people or going into shops - all the things a young person would like to do.

"I was at home alone. If I went through the front door, those boys were waiting outside to bully me."

The bullying has now stopped and Ashley, who was joined on the Loose Women couch by his mother, Louise, is a support worker for adults with learning disabilities.

He also works with a charity called Fixers that helps people campaign about issues that are important to them to stop other people being bullied because they look different.

He said: "My life's completely different - there's been a massive change.

"Before my confidence was knocked right back and I didn't interact with people.

"That's all changed and knowing I've got people supporting me and my campaign is amazing."

Ashley, who is also an ambassador for Jeans for Genes and has received a certificate from Theresa May, added: "I'm not going to sop bullying, but if I can change one person's life that's great.

"Everything I've done with my campaign has made me stronger knowing that I'm going to be helping someone else.

"I've helped a friend's friend who was bullied over a scar from a tracheotomy. I've helped him cope with it.

"If only the bullies knew the impact to people of what they do."