John & Edward 'suffered severe bullying'

X Factor contestants John & Edward reportedly suffered severe bullying during their time at an Irish boarding school.

In one incident, the twins were tied up in laundry sacks and hung from a first floor window, the Sunday Mirror reports.

According to the newspaper, the boys - aged 13 at the time - were dangled over a 20-foot drop for ten minutes.

The 15-year-old who was identified as the ringleader of the bullies was suspended.

A fellow boarder said: "The twins could be quite cheeky to the older boarders, who gave them a hard time. But the laundry bags thing was taking it a bit far. Obviously, they were panicking. They were terrified."

The newspaper tracked down the boy who is believed to have orchestrated the bullying. Commenting on the incident, he admitted: "I was suspended over that kind of general stuff, yeah.

"We could have tied them up - I can't remember exactly. There was a lot of stuff done."

Richard Piggin, from the charity Beatbullying, has praised John & Edward.

He commented: "The abuse the twins suffered is horrific. But they're sending out the right message. They say, 'No, I'm better than you, you're not going to stop me fulfilling my potential'."