A 45-year-old man accepted parental responsibility for his truanting sons despite living separately from their mother.

Patrick Maughan, of Holland Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to secure school attendance of his sons aged nine and 11.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £60 costs.

Julie Lloyd, prosecuting, said the boys were registered pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Church.

In a six-month period up to May, the elder boy had attended 65 out of a possible 210 possible sessions and his brother had attended 103.

She said often the absences were explained by the boys being sick but teachers and members of staff had seen them playing out when this was meant to be the case.

Peter King, defending, said the boys' mother had already been dealt with for the same offences.

He said she had everyday control of the boys but he lived very close in a caravan on the same street.

"He doesn't shy away from his parental responsibilities and shares in their upbringing," said Mr King. "They are from a large travelling family where the travelling culture and beliefs are very prevalent.

"There are times when they are not in school because they are travelling."