EDUCATION bosses have warned parents in Hyndburn to get their children to school after a mother was fined £100.

The Rishton woman was handed a fine after she failed to secure her son's regular attendance at St Peter's and St Paul's Primary School in Rishton.

She pleaded guilty before Hyndburn magistrates and was convicted.

A county council education spokesman today said: "We have a policy of pursuing legal action against parents when we think it will bring about an outcome ensuring the children return to school.

"When some parents arrive in court they are willing to work with us and legal procedures do not need to go any further.

"For some parents legal action is necessary because they have refused to co-operate with us and there is no other option.

"We have prosecuted more parents in Lancashire in recent years as it has become easier to take cases to court. Legal action is part of a wider package of measures which we use to ensure school attendance."

County Coun Jean Battle, who represents Church and Accrington North, added: "There is a problem in Hyndburn because you see a lot of people out of school.

"It's difficult because you don't know if they're playing truant or are excluded, or just off sick. I welcome tightening up on truancy from schools and getting the young people back into school where they belong and not on the streets."