TEACHERS told a teenager to stay at home for five weeks after he dislocated his knee - then education bosses sent his mum a warning about truancy.

Susan Moody, of Fecitt Brow, Blackburn, was told she faced action over the absence of 15-year-old Liam Jones by Lancashire County Council.

But she had previously been told by Rhyddings County High, Oswaldtwistle, to keep him at home because his leg was in plaster.

She said: "I have had to have time off work to sort this mess out. It is ridiculous and caused a lot of upset. I shouldn't be getting letters like this."

Rhyddings deputy headteacher Paul Trickett said: "At no point have the school had any concerns about Liam's attendance.

"His student co-ordinator was aware of Liam's condition and fully supportive of his post-injury remedial treatment."

Today county council bosses said the "letter of concern" was sent in a bid to "instigate discussions" with the family, but they had now been reassured Liam's absence was legitimate.

Liam dislocated his knee at the school on January 12 when he fell against some stairs. The school called his mum, Susan, who took him to Blackburn Infirmary where his leg was put in plaster up to the waist.

The plaster was removed on February 23 and replaced with a leg brace which let him walk.

Mother-of-three Mrs Moody, 36, said: "He was in excruciating pain. He was told he had suffered a break and a dislocated knee.

"School said he couldn't come to school in plaster because of health and safety reasons, so the year head organised for work to be sent home.

"He was climbing the walls, getting really bored. It was his GCSE revision time and it is hard enough knowing his grades have slipped from As.

"They let him back when the pot came off, but he still has to go to physio twice a week to an advanced knee clinic.

"Now I have been sent a letter threatening all sorts of action to say he has not been to school. I wouldn't mind but all the dates next to his absence are marked M for medical."

The county council letter said a review of Liam's attendance revealed a drop to 76 per cent with 15 broken weeks of attendance. It described Liam's school showing as "far from satisfactory" and called for an "immediate improvement".

It suggested the school could carry out a formal review and reminded Mrs Moody about her obligations under law to provide full-time education saying: "Failure to comply with this parental duty is an offence. It is most important that you acknowledge your own responsibility in this respect."

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "Liam's attendance before his injury had been excellent. As he is in Year 10, which is an important stage in his school career, we were keen that this record of attendance continued."