LANCASHIRE education bosses today vowed to crack down on pupils taking term-time holidays.

A survey by Lancashire County Council's Education Service revealed that a quarter of all school children in Lancashire have taken time away from school for a holiday.

Of all the districts in the county, those which recorded above the average of 25 per cent of school children taking term time holidays included Burnley at 28.5 per cent, Chorley at 27.3 per cent and Pendle at 27 per cent.

The youngsters missed out on a total of 210,600 full school days during the 10-month survey, which was completed in a bid to encourage schools and parents to stop taking so many term time holidays.

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for children and families, said: "National studies have shown that there is a link between pupils' school attendance and attainment at school.

"We are not insisting that parents never take their children away during term time, but parents need to consider children's education first."

Mike Sunderland, from Lancashire County Council's Education Welfare Service, added: "There are times during a pupil's school career when it may be a particular disadvantage if they are taken on holiday or for periods of extended leave by their parents.

"This can seriously disrupt the continuity of their learning especially during the transition from primary to secondary school and during coursework or exams."