Many people are more accepting of diversity than in the past, although old attitudes still remain and discrimination should always be stamped upon as soon as it rears its ugly head.

That is why it is so sickening to hear about the emergence of the unofficial ‘Kick A Ginger Day’, which is thought to have emanated from the United States.

While some misguided people might dismiss this ‘day’ as simply a funny wheeze, which no-one would take seriously, last week it reportedly led to people with ginger hair being attacked throughout Britain.

It appears one Kendal youngster felt so worried he skipped school that day and only felt able to stay there a few hours when he returned the following day.

This week former Kendal town councillor Enda Farrell, whose ginger-haired 15-year-old daughter Helena was found dead in January, called for discrimination against hair colour to be made a hate crime.

He believes Helena took her own life and the bullying she suffered throughout her life as a result of her hair colour was a contributory factor.

All police forces must enforce laws prohibiting hate crime involving race and ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity.

But they have the power to add other categories and Mr Farrell wants Cumbria to add hair colour. In many walks of life, the emphasis in 2013 seems to be on education, behaviour and empowerment, rather than ‘top down’ legislation, to effect change.

It is arguable whether discrimination against hair colour should be made a specific crime but a thorough debate certainly needs to happen and MP Tim Farron’s written Parliamentary question to Home Secretary Theresa May could prove the catalyst.

At the very least, however, awareness must be raised about the harm such discrimination and bullying can cause and every time it happens it must be squashed out immediately because it is both corrosive and abhorrent.